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🍝 Pasta

Herb butter pasta

Bright, buttery, and perfect for scrappy herb moments

⏱️ Time estimate: about 20 minutes

Softened butter gets mashed with herbs, garlic, lemon zest, chili flakes, and salt, then melted over pasta and vegetables for one of those deeply satisfying low-effort bowls.

Herb butter pasta with fresh herbs

Ingredients

Herb butter

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh herbs, any combination you like
  • 1 teaspoon grated garlic or garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Pasta

  • 1/4 pound pasta
  • 1 cup chopped or diced vegetables, such as zucchini, asparagus, kale, or spinach
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • More herb butter, as needed

Instructions

  1. Make the herb butter. Mince the herbs and mix them with the softened butter, garlic, lemon zest, chili flakes, and salt until well combined.
  2. Store or shape. Use the butter immediately, or roll it into a log in parchment and chill or freeze for later.
  3. Cook the pasta. Boil the pasta in well-salted water until al dente.
  4. Sauté the vegetables. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet and cook your chosen vegetables until softened.
  5. Bring it together. Add a chunk of herb butter to the vegetables and let it melt. Add the drained pasta and more herb butter as needed, tossing until glossy and coated.
  6. Serve. Taste, adjust if needed, and serve warm.

Friendly little freezer note: extra herb butter tucked away for later feels like a gift to your future self.