Roasted Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

   • Set the oven to 180°C (365°F) and allow it to preheat.

2. Roast the Garlic

   2 min hands-on45 min waiting

   • Place garlic bulbs on baking paper and wrap tightly to form a parcel.
   • Place in a roasting tin and roast for 45 minutes or until soft and caramelized.
   • Remove from oven and cool slightly.

3. Prepare Cheese Mixture

   1 min hands-on

   • Combine finely grated Parmesan with lemon zest in a mixing bowl.
   • Stir to mix evenly.

4. Toast the Pepper

   2 min hands-on

   • Heat a dry frying pan over medium heat.
   • Add ground black pepper and toast until fragrant and just smoking.
   • Remove from heat and add to cheese mixture.

5. Make Roasted Garlic Paste

   3 min hands-on

   • Peel cooled garlic and squeeze out softened cloves.
   • Mash into a smooth paste and mix into cheese and pepper mixture until thick.

6. Cook the Pasta

   2 min hands-on8 min waiting

   • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook whole-grain pasta until al dente.

7. Reserve Pasta Water

   1 min hands-on

   • After 4 minutes of cooking, scoop out some starchy pasta water.
   • Slowly add to cheese and garlic mixture, stirring to form a creamy sauce.

8. Drain the Pasta

   2 min hands-on

   • Drain cooked pasta, reserving additional pasta water for adjustments.
   • Return drained pasta to the pot.

9. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   3 min hands-on

   • Place pot over very low heat.
   • Pour creamy garlic and cheese sauce over pasta, stirring quickly to coat.
   • Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick, stirring to achieve a silky texture.

10. Final Touches

    1 min hands-on

    • Once sauce coats pasta evenly, turn off heat.
    • Stir for an additional minute for smooth consistency.

11. Serve

    2 min hands-on

    • Divide pasta into portions.
    • Top with remaining Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon juice, and extra black pepper.
    • Serve immediately.
    • Cooking tips:
    • Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and smooth melting.
    • Toasting the black pepper brings out its depth and aroma—don't skip this step!
    • Keep the heat low when combining the pasta and sauce to prevent the cheese from clumping or separating.
    • If you prefer a tangier flavor, add more lemon juice to taste.
    • Serve immediately to enjoy the creamy texture at its best.