⏲10 min prep time / 20 min total time
Serves 2-3 (or 4 as a side dish)
- 8 oz. Pipe Rigate or pasta of choice (1/2 package; double sauce if using whole pack)
- 1/4 Cup Pine Nuts
- 1/2 Cup Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese, preferably Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves, grated or finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt, or more to taste
- 1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Fresh Basil Leaves, for garnish (optional)
1️⃣ Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
2️⃣ In a small pan over medium heat, toast the pine nuts, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3-4 mins. Immediately transfer them to a large mixing bowl so they don’t burn.
3️⃣ To the bowl with the pine nuts, add the grated Parmesan, olive oil, grated garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
4️⃣ Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
5️⃣ Immediately add the hot pasta to the bowl with the sauce along with a couple tablespoons of pasta water. Using tongs, toss well until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes glossy and coats the pasta. Add another splash of pasta water if needed. Taste and season with more salt if desired.
6️⃣ Serve right away with extra black pepper, Parmesan, and basil if you like. Enjoy!
bumps protein to 30–40g per serving
60-Minute Meal Prep Plan
Daily Assembly (2 minutes)
Pro Meal Prep Tips
Optional Variations (so you don’t get bored)
Weight-loss tips with this breakfast
If you’d like, I can also show you 3 “fat-loss optimized” chia yogurt recipes used by nutritionists that keep the meal under 200 calories while still being very filling.