Help me find a pasta sauce.

April 11, 2023 1:37 PM

I have a flavored pasta that needs a sauce. I also have a dumb complication that is making it hard to find a good sauce for it.

I have some lemon pepper penne flavored pasta, and I'm trying to think of what sort of a sauce would work with it. Googling "sauce for lemon pepper penne" brings up eighty bazillion recipes for...lemon pepper pasta sauce. Which I don't need, because all that's in the pasta.

What sort of sauce could I make that would go well over a lemon pepper pasta?

I'm up for cooking most anything, sauce-wise, but simpler/quicker would be better. I have no dietary restrictions except that we both detest mushrooms and olives. I also have a couple meals' worth of shredded chicken that would probably mix well in the pasta with a few veggies, if that sort of thing brings something to mind. My first thought was something like a vodka cream sauce, but I also thought that might overwhelm the flavor of the pasta.

I looked at the recipe that Pappardelle's linked to for that pasta, and it sounds...fine. I was hoping for something a little more inspired, though.

posted by pdb to Food & Drink (19 answers total)

Any time someone gives me novelty pasta like that, I just serve it cold in a salad. The shredded chicken could go in a salad too.
posted by pipeski at 1:41 PM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

What about just some butter and/or olive oil? Top with parmesan and more black pepper if you want.
posted by maleficent at 1:51 PM on April 11, 2023 [18 favorites]

Best answer: I'd consider making a cacio e pepe, which is dead simple with few ingredients.

The trick to getting good pasta water for it is to use the bare minimum you need to cover the pasta - it makes the water starchier. I find toasting the cracked pepper in the pan (just until it becomes a bit fragrant) before adding the butter makes all the difference.

I usually finish the cacio e pepe with a little fresh lemon juice for brightness, which is why it came to mind. I think your pasta would be perfect for it!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:54 PM on April 11, 2023 [11 favorites]

Best answer: Artichoke sauce! It loves lemon.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:59 PM on April 11, 2023 [8 favorites]

Shrimp scampi. I’d add some greens probably.
posted by vunder at 2:01 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yeah, butter. Possibly with fresh baby peas, or asparagus, or fresh mozzarella and tomato. OMG that sounds so good...
posted by amtho at 2:08 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

The pasta has its own seasoning, so it doesn't really require sauce.
posted by amtho at 2:08 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I would do a basic Alfredo, not too heavy on the garlic.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 2:14 PM on April 11, 2023 [5 favorites]

Best answer: butter and basil (so, maybe pesto)

alfredo is also a possibility, if you can get over the 90s-era horror of it all.
posted by Dashy at 2:15 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Any time someone gives me novelty pasta like that, I just serve it cold in a salad

My first thought was a pasta caesar salad.
posted by solotoro at 2:19 PM on April 11, 2023

With a novelty pasta that is also gluten-free, I would seriously recommend first making a small test batch to determine both flavor and texture. The thought of a heavy cream sauce on a gummy pasta is disheartening.
posted by praemunire at 2:21 PM on April 11, 2023 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks all, these are great ideas!

praemunire - we've used this brand's GF pasta before (although not this flavor) and it's a lot less gummy than some GF pastas we've had. I think it could stand up to a cream sauce but a test isn't a bad idea.
posted by pdb at 2:36 PM on April 11, 2023

There is a good chance that the pasta will only have hints of pepper and lemon flavour by the time it has been boiled. The more ingredients you then add the more you'll have to re-enforce these flavours by adding more pepper and more lemon.

So if you're happy to go easy on the other ingredients I'd just lightly toss the pasta in butter or even buttery water and serve immediately.

If you want to add chicken, or other ingredients, get ready to add more pepper and lemon as well. Alternatively, serve with salad or roasted veg tossed with a bit of lemon juice and pepper to help pick up these flavours.
posted by koahiatamadl at 2:37 PM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

I love this carrot pasta sauce. You don't have to add the cashews or miso, but they do make it richer and more savory. I make it when I've overbought baby carrots. Oh, and I use an immersion blender to avoid all the fuss with the blender.
posted by annaramma at 2:40 PM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

If you like clams, lemon, parsley, and clams are a classic pasta combination.
posted by Candleman at 3:12 PM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

Trader Joes Artichoke pesto sauce.
posted by Oyéah at 4:03 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: We went with the cacio e pepe and it was fantastic. But we also banked a bunch of these suggestions because they all sound good.
posted by pdb at 7:25 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've tossed pasta with asparagus, butter and lemon, and it's delicious.
posted by theora55 at 7:40 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Cream cheese and smoked salmon
posted by eastboundanddown at 11:36 AM on April 12, 2023