Description
This vibrant Amalfi lemon, chilli & anchovy spaghetti recipe combines the bright citrus notes of Amalfi lemon with the savory umami of anchovies and a spicy kick from fresh red chillies. Tossed with garlic-infused olive oil and finished with fresh parsley and Parmesan, this simple yet flavorful Italian pasta dish delivers a perfect balance of zest, heat, and richness.
Ingredients
Scale
Oil & Aromatics
- 120ml extra virgin olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves
Pasta
- 350g spaghetti, bucatini or linguine
Flavorings
- 1–2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
- 8 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
- Small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
- 1 large Amalfi or unwaxed lemon, zested and juiced
- Approximately 40g finely grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Infuse the oil: Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over low heat. Add the garlic cloves and fry gently for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is just turning golden at the edges. Remove the pan from heat and let the garlic infuse in the oil for 15 minutes.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti (or bucatini/linguine) according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 150ml of pasta cooking water before draining.
- Prepare the sauce: Remove the garlic cloves from the infused olive oil. Add the cooked drained pasta directly to the pan with the infused oil. Then add the chopped chillies, anchovy fillets, chopped parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan.
- Toss and combine: Pour in 50ml of the reserved pasta water and toss everything together thoroughly using tongs, ensuring the pasta is well coated. Add more of the reserved water if needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency. Season to taste.
- Serve: Divide the spaghetti evenly between four shallow bowls and serve immediately, enjoying the fresh, zesty, and slightly spicy flavors.
Notes
- You can adjust the quantity of red chillies to control the spiciness of the dish.
- Use unwaxed lemons if possible for the freshest zest and juice flavors.
- Anchovies add a deep umami flavor but melt into the sauce, so the dish will not taste fishy.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the fresh textures and vibrant flavors.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Amalfi lemon spaghetti, chilli anchovy pasta, Italian pasta recipe, garlic infused olive oil pasta, lemon chili pasta, quick pasta dinner
