Ingredients

• 1 pound bowtie pasta
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the pasta and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander, leaving 3 to 4 tablespoons pasta water in the bottom of the pot.
2. Return pot to a low heat. Whisk the butter in bit by bit, letting each piece melt completely before adding the next, to make a creamy sauce. Toss the pasta in the sauce. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg if desired. (Add a little warm water if the pasta looks shiny.) Transfer to warmed bowls and serve warm, with Parmesan sprinkled over each dish if desired.
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