Dinner Tonight: Pasta with lemon, capers and anchovies
Adding whole lemons slices to a classic midnight pasta brightens the dish.
Dinner Tonight
November 20, 2025

Pasta With Lemon, Capers and Anchovies

Pasta With Lemon, Capers and Anchovies
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff.

Recipe by Melissa Clark | Total time: 25 minutes

Adding whole lemons slices to a classic midnight pasta brightens the dish, giving it a juicy tang to all the salty, savory flavors in the pan. The key is to blanch the slices in the pasta water first, which tames their bitterness, then to give them a quick sear in olive oil, which caramelizes their edges. Make sure the pan is very hot when you add the lemon pieces. Otherwise, it can be hard to get them brown enough to bring out their natural sweetness.

View this recipe →

Find more fast and delicious dinner recipes in our Weeknight 100.

Was this email forwarded to you? You can sign up for Dinner Tonight here.

Save and organize your go-to dinner recipes with the New York Times Cooking app. Try the app today.

If you like the work we do at New York Times Cooking, please subscribe! Reach out to cookingcare@nytimes.com if you have any questions about your account.

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Dinner Tonight from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Dinner Tonight, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to NYT Cooking

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018