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white wine lemon caper sauce - featured image

White Wine Lemon Caper Sauce


  • Author: Nora Winslow
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A bright, tangy, and savory sauce made with white wine, lemon, and capers that comes together in just 15 minutes. Perfect for tossing with pasta for a light yet flavorful meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: zest and juice the lemon, mince garlic, chop parsley, and drain capers.
  2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until hot and shimmering.
  3. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just starting to turn golden.
  4. Pour in the white wine, stir to deglaze the pan, and let it simmer gently until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and capers; mix well.
  6. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in the chopped parsley.
  8. Toss the sauce immediately with cooked pasta, adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Notes

[‘Do not rush the wine reduction to concentrate flavor and cook off alcohol.’, ‘Use fresh lemon zest for best brightness and flavor.’, ‘Rinse capers to reduce excess saltiness.’, ‘Keep heat moderate to avoid burning garlic and to properly reduce sauce.’, ‘Save some pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.’, ‘Use a combination of butter and olive oil for richness and silky texture.’, ‘Add fresh parsley at the end to keep it bright and fresh.’, ‘Use good-quality white wine, avoid cooking wines or cheap brands.’, ‘Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; avoid freezing.’, ‘Reheat gently and add water or lemon juice to refresh sauce texture.’]

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: About ½ cup sauce pl
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 1
  • Sodium: 350
  • Fat: 10
  • Saturated Fat: 3
  • Carbohydrates: 15
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 3

Keywords: white wine sauce, lemon caper sauce, pasta sauce, easy pasta sauce, quick sauce, Mediterranean sauce, light pasta sauce