This lemon garlic pasta is the perfect summer pasta dish. It's creamy, delicious, and has a crunch of spicy and smoky Chipotle Almonds. This easy recipe comes together in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 large garlic cloves minced
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. minced onion
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. cracked black pepper
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 cups long fusilli pasta
• ½ cup Santé Chipotle Almonds, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp. fresh basil finely chopped
• Whole basil leaves to garnish

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once it begins to bubble, add the garlic. Cook for 3 – 5 minutes until fragrant.
2. Add the heavy cream, salt, minced onion, onion powder, cracked black pepper, lemon juice, and zest, and cook for another 1 – 2 minutes. Add the parmesan cheese, constantly stir to allow even melting, and bring the mixture to a light boil. Allow the sauce to reduce on medium-low heat and thicken for 5 minutes.
3. Prior to making the sauce or during, prepare the long fusilli pasta according to the instructions on the package in a large pot. Rinse and strain, saving ¼ – ½ cup of the pasta water.
4. Transfer the pasta into the large pan with the sauce, add the amount of pasta water desired, and mix thoroughly to combine.
5. Add in the chopped Chipotle Almonds and chopped basil, and mix to combine. Serve the pasta with fresh basil leaves and extra almonds.

Recipe by Food by Maria featuring Santé Chipotle Almonds