Spaghetti al Limone
Silky spaghetti glistens with lemon, olive oil, parmesan, and black pepper in this swift Amalfi-inspired supper. Bright citrus cuts through the cheese while starchy pasta water draws everything into a delicate sauce. Ready in fifteen minutes, it is sunny, elegant, and perfectly proportioned for an effortless dinner shared by two.
- Cook Time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pairing
- Falanghina
The Story
Along the Amalfi Coast, lemons perfume gardens, terraces, and kitchens, lending their vivid fragrance to dishes that prize clarity over complication. Spaghetti al limone turns a handful of ingredients into a sauce without cream: pasta water emulsifies olive oil, parmesan, lemon juice, and zest until every strand shines. Black pepper brings warmth against the citrus. The technique is quick, but timing matters; the pasta should move directly from pot to pan while its starch can still bind the sauce. Served immediately in warm bowls, it captures the coast's brightness and makes an ordinary evening feel unexpectedly transportive at home together.
Ingredients
Tap to check off as you gather
Nutrition notes (verified ingredients)
- extra-virgin olive oilper 100 g: 800 kcal · 0 g protein · 93.3 g fat · 0 g carbs
≈ 180 kcal · 0 g protein · 21 g fat · 0 g carbs per serving (estimated from 1 of 7 ingredients — metric quantities of verified ingredients only)
Not yet verified against FoodData Central: spaghetti, unwaxed lemons, parmesan, finely grated, reserved pasta water, freshly ground black pepper, fine salt.
Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central (snapshot 2026-09-11). Per-serving estimates assume the recipe is portioned evenly; per-100 g values are fixed reference figures.
Method
Check each step as you go
Falanghina
Bright citrus, floral lift, and mineral freshness mirror the lemon while balancing parmesan and olive oil.
Pairing notes
This pairing is editorial guidance for the dish — look for a bottle from Campania at any wine shop you like. No retailer links are active on this site. See our affiliate disclosure.