Myeongran Lemon Cream Fettuccine
Cook the fettuccine for 1 minute less than the package time. Heat 180 ml heavy cream and 80 ml milk over low heat until just below simmering, stir in 40 g of the salted pollock roe until it dissolves, then toss in the pasta with the Parmigiano Reggiano and lemon zest, adding pasta water to adjust the consistency. Turn off the heat, set the remaining 40 g roe on top, and salt last, because the roe and cheese are already salty.
Quick answer
- Total time
- 35 min
- Level
- Medium
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 10
About this dish
Myeongran lemon cream fettuccine wraps wide pasta ribbons in a sauce made from salted pollock roe, heavy cream, butter, and lemon zest.
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The small eggs of the roe are left intact and stirred into the sauce off the heat so they stay soft and burst with briny flavor when bitten rather than turning granular or hard. Garlic bloomed in butter forms the aromatic base, and a mixture of heavy cream with milk tempers the roe's saltiness into a smooth, balanced coating. Using lemon zest rather than juice adds a bright citrus fragrance without diluting the sauce or introducing acidity that would curdle the cream. Parmigiano-Reggiano deepens the savory foundation, and fettuccine's broad, flat surface holds the thick cream more effectively than thinner pasta shapes. The entire dish takes about twenty minutes from start to plate, making it a practical weeknight option that does not sacrifice depth of flavor for speed. The critical technique -- incorporating the roe off the heat -- keeps the texture creamy throughout and prevents the eggs from cooking into tough, unpleasant morsels.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Slit the sac of 80g mentaiko lengthwise and scrape out the roe.
Finely mince 2 garlic cloves.
- 2
Cook 180g fettuccine in salted boiling water for 1 minute less than the package time.
Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- 3
Melt 20g unsalted butter in a pan.
Cook the minced garlic over low heat for 30-40 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- 4
Add 180ml heavy cream and 80ml milk and heat over low heat until just below simmering.
Add 40g of the roe and stir until dissolved into the sauce.
- 5
Add the cooked fettuccine, 30g Parmigiano, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest.
Toss gently while adding pasta water to adjust consistency.
- 6
Turn off the heat and place the remaining 40g roe on top.
Season with 0.5 teaspoon salt and 0.5 teaspoon pepper and serve immediately.
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