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Lemon pasta

Name: Lemon pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: Serves 2-3
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 250g linguine (or another shape); 60ml olive oil; 2 fat garlic cloves, finely sliced; ½-1 red chilli (according to taste), seeds removed, finely chopped (or a pinch of chilli flakes); 2 anchovy fillets, chopped (see Tips); 1 preserved lemon, skin finely chopped, pulp discarded (or grated zest 1 fresh lemon); 100g green pitted olives, roughly chopped; 30g parmesan, grated, plus extra to serve; Juice ½ lemon; For the pangrattato; 50g stale bread; 1 tbsp olive oil; Grated zest ½ lemon; Large handful dill, roughly chopped

By: Jess Meyer
Former deputy food editor, delicious.

Published: 13 Jun 22
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Pasta al limone is a classic Italian storecupboard dinner. The key players are anchovies, olives, lemons and stale bread, and it’s on the table in just 15 minutes.

Check out more of our most popular budget pasta recipes.

Easy
June 2022

Test kitchen approved

Serves 2-3
Hands-on time 15 min

Pasta al limone is a classic Italian storecupboard dinner. The key players are anchovies, olives, lemons and stale bread, and it’s on the table in just 15 minutes.

Check out more of our most popular budget pasta recipes.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 611kcals
Fat: 14.4g (5.8g saturated)
Protein: 8.3g
Carbohydrates: 68.5g (2.6g sugars)
Fibre: 5.3g
Salt: 1.9g

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Ingredients

250g linguine (or another shape)
60ml olive oil
2 fat garlic cloves, finely sliced
½-1 red chilli (according to taste), seeds removed, finely chopped (or a pinch of chilli flakes)
2 anchovy fillets, chopped (see Tips)
1 preserved lemon, skin finely chopped, pulp discarded (or grated zest 1 fresh lemon)
100g green pitted olives, roughly chopped
30g parmesan, grated, plus extra to serve
Juice ½ lemon

For the pangrattato

50g stale bread
1 tbsp olive oil
Grated zest ½ lemon
Large handful dill, roughly chopped

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Method

For the pangrattato, whizz the bread in a small food processor to crumbs. Heat the 1 tbsp oil in a pan over a medium heat, then fry the crumbs, stirring often, for 5 minutes until crisp. Mix in the zest, most of the dill and a pinch of salt, then set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 150ml of the cooking water.
Wipe out the pasta pan and heat the 60ml oil over a medium heat. Fry the garlic, chilli and anchovies for 1 minute, then add the preserved lemon and olives and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Return the drained pasta to the pan, along with the parmesan and most of the reserved pasta water. Cook, stirring, until the pasta is coated in a light glossy sauce, adding more cooking water if needed. Season with the lemon juice, salt and more chilli as needed. Serve topped with the pangrattato and more parmesan, if you like.