Our Best Lemon Recipes

Lemon Possets

Lemon posset is quite possibly the easiest dessert you can make. It’s a classic British “pudding” that requires only three ingredients—lemon, cream and sugar—and only a few minutes at the stovetop. There’s no need to whisk, whip or fold. The acidity o

By Rose HattabaughFebruary 12, 2026

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Spaghetti

Spaghetti aglio e olio—just spaghetti, olive oil (olio), and garlic (aglio), is endlessly modifiable—and a perfect base for lemony shrimp.

By Rose HattabaughApril 4, 2023

Lemon and Caraway Butter Cake

Claire Ptak made us this elegantly simple cake when we paid her a visit at Violet Cakes, her bakery-café in London. She explained that it is an old-fashioned British teacake known, rather plainly, as “seed cake” and that she first encountered it after

By Malcolm JacksonDecember 24, 2023

Lemon and Green Pea Risotto

This green pea risotto is another perfect example of lemon’s power to turn a simple, good dish into a great one. OR Lemon lightens and brightens, turning a good dish into a great one.

By Laura RussellNovember 15, 2022

Greek Egg-Lemon Soup (Avgolemono)

Chicken and rice soup with a satisfying thickness from an egg whisked broth with a cut of citrus— perfectly simple and soothing. OR Sunny flavors, winter comfort: this Greece chicken soup uses an egg-lemon mixture for thickened broth and a cut of brig

By Courtney HillNovember 11, 2022

“Orzotto” with Asparagus, Lemon and Parmesan

"Orzotto” combines no-cream creaminess with grassy, spring-fresh asparagus, lemon, and savory Parm.

By Laura RussellApril 25, 2023

Farfalle with Spinach and Lemon Pesto

This speedy pasta was inspired by the spaghetti al pesto di limone that Giovanna Aceto made for us on her family’s farm in Amalfi, Italy. Instead of lemon juice, which is sharp and acidic, we use lemon zest, where the essential oils reside. We use lem

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Moroccan-Style Braised Lemon Chicken (Tangia)

This simple chicken braise loaded with high-flavor ingredients is modeled on tangia, a slow-cooked lamb dish from Marrakech. We got a lesson in cooking tangia the traditional way from taxi driver Youssef Boufelja. For our simplified version, we used b

Spaghetti with Lemon, Anchovies and Capers

We usually just dump it down the drain, but Lidia Bastianich reminds us that the water we cook our pasta in is worth saving. She uses the starchy water to thicken flavorful sauces from strong pantry staples — anchovies, capers, garlic, lemon and red p

By Diane UngerJanuary 6, 2017

Gemelli and Peas with Lemon, Herbs and Ricotta

Citrusy and herbaceous, this easy, spring-inspired meal features garlic, peas and plenty of lemon, both zest and juice. We heat the thawed frozen peas by putting them in a colander and draining the cooked pasta over them. To create an extra-starchy li

By Rose HattabaughOctober 17, 2023

Browned Butter and Lemon Pasta with Chicken

We cook butter until the milk solids caramelize to add nutty fragrance and flavor to this pasta dish. The richness of the browned butter is balanced with a generous measure of aromatic lemon zest and tart, tangy lemon juice. Either boneless chicken br

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Celery Salad with Lemon-Parmesan Vinaigrette

This quick, yet elegant five-ingredient salad is full of texture and clean, simple flavors. It’s a welcome addition to a rich meal, such as a Thanksgiving spread or other holiday menu. If convenient, after tossing the celery and shallot with the dress

By Hisham Ali HassanNovember 18, 2025

Olive Oil–Poached Broccoli with Garlic and Lemon

This technique is not actually oil poaching, but it’s close. Broccoli is cooked in a generous amount of extra-virgin olive oil—½ cup to be precise—produces stalks that are supple and tender, with a depth of flavor and richness you can’t get with steam

By Rose HattabaughFebruary 24, 2026

Lemon and Pistachio Bars

To balance the bright acidity of lemon, our take on this classic bar incorporates a small measure of fruity, savory olive oil in both the custard and crust. We found that using egg yolks in addition to whole eggs boosts both richness and color. Butter

By Courtney HillJune 27, 2024

Amalfi-Style Lemon Cake

"I married her just for the lemon cake," a sixth-generation Amalfi lemon farmer told us.

By Rose HattabaughOctober 22, 2021

Spaghetti with Lemon Pesto

This zesty, lightly perfumed lemon pesto is inspired by the world-famous lemons of Amalfi, Italy.

By Courtney HillDecember 14, 2020

Lemony Lentil-Kale Soup with Sweet Potatoes

We use lemon two ways in this bright, lemony lentil kale soup, based on Lebanese soup adas bil hamod.

By Courtney HillDecember 17, 2019

Minty Green Pea Salad with Lemon and Feta

Milk Street Facebook Community member Betsey Walker Culliton, of Austin, Texas, makes this simple no-cook salad featuring frozen peas and fresh mint. She aptly describes it as “springtime in a bowl.” The saltiness of the feta is a perfect complement t

By Courtney HillJanuary 24, 2022

Chicken Salmoriglio

“SHOW STOPPER,” one commenter writes of this Chicken Salmoriglio—chicken coated in a subtly sweet-tart sauce common in Sicily and Calabria.

Pasta with Parmesan Cream

This silky Pasta With Parmesan Cream is barely a recipe—Parm, lemon, and cream—yet solves the often gooey mishaps of Alfredo and carbonara.

By Diane UngerAugust 10, 2020

Lemon–Olive Oil Vinaigrette

If the dressing is left to stand, the ingredients eventually will separate. Simply shake once again just before using to recombine. Leftovers can be refrigerated in the jar for up to one week; bring to room temperature before using.

By Milk StreetJune 3, 2019

Mashed Chickpeas with Scallions and Lemon

Swap potato salad for mashed chickpeas! They’re a satisfying sandwich filler, more flavorful than mashed potatoes, and a nutrient-rich egg salad sub.

By Phoebe MaglathlinApril 7, 2020

Lemon and Shrimp Risotto with Fresh Basil

In Amalfi, we learned to make an intensely-flavored lemon and shrimp risotto with an egg yolk and cream for velvety richness.

Shaved Zucchini and Chicken Salad with Lemon and Almonds

This light, bright chicken salad—inspired by one from Milan, Italy—is packed with zucchini ribbons and almonds, and a simple, clean dressing.

By Rose HattabaughDecember 14, 2020

Broccoli with Lemon, Toasted Garlic and Smoked Almonds

In this recipe, simple steamed broccoli gets big, bold flavor when it’s tossed after cooking with a lemony, nutty, toasted-garlic dressing. We double up on the smokiness by using both smoked almonds and Spanish smoked paprika; the nuts also add a welc

By Rose HattabaughNovember 8, 2021

Spaghetti al Limone

Lemony freshness and light creaminess pair beautifully in this simple, vibrant pasta from Italy’s Amalfi coast.

By Diane UngerMay 28, 2018

Frozen Lemon Mousse

Thanks to store-bought lemon curd, you don’t need to spend any time at the stovetop to make this ethereal frozen mousse. With the help of a stand mixer, the base comes together in a few minutes, then is frozen in a loaf pan until firm enough to unmold

By Rose HattabaughAugust 12, 2024

Lemon-Garlic Fettuccine

In Amalfi, Italy, we were taught a delicious, bracing pasta dish of handmade lemon fettuccine tossed with a simple, quick sauté of garlic, olive oil and fresh lemon segments. To mimic the sweet, mild flavor of Amalfi lemons using the standard lemons a

By Diane UngerDecember 14, 2020

Lemon-Buttermilk Pound Cake

The lemon pound cake for angel food cake lovers.

By Matthew CardApril 4, 2017