Your email address is required to begin the subscription process. We will use it for customer service and other communications from Milk Street. You can unsubscribe from receiving our emails at any time.
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 pepper flakes — to make a fast pasta sauce for this weeknight recipe. “You pull out pasta and some kind of basic, intense ingredients,” she says. “Some anchovies. Some olives. Some capers. Of course some good olive oil. You have dinner for four in less than half an hour.”
4
Servings
Tip
Don’t salt the pasta water as much as usual; the other ingredients provide plenty of salt. One tablespoon kosher salt for 4 quarts of water worked for this recipe.
30 min
15 min active
Ingredients
-
12
ounces spaghetti
-
¼
cup extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
-
01Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just tender but not fully cooked, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 2 cups of the cooking water, then drain.
Reviews
August 16, 2025
Delicious!
I have made this several times. Bursting with flavor.
November 20, 2023
Loved it! Drop the cheese, add the shrimp
I loved this dish, although I didn’t include cheese, as it doesn’t feel complimentary to me here. The first taste reminded me a bit of linguine/clams/white wine sauce…so the other reviews that suggest some sautéed shrimp are SPOT ON. Without a protein, it’s just the pasta really…although one of the tastiest pastas I’ve had in a long time! I’ll make it again, many times, and I’ll plan on adding some shrimp or clams.
January 5, 2023
Delicious!
I followed a reader suggestion and added some shrimp seared in garlic and butter. Very tasty and will make again!
Become A Subscriber To Rate and Review All Our Recipes.
Please Log in or join today for $1.
Fantastic! I have made it twice now, both times just as good. It tastes like pasta that came straight from the sea, in the best possible way. If you like the taste of piccata, you're really going to like this recipe. The anchovy gives it an added depth of umami but doesn't turn the dish "fishy". Lots of Parmesan on top was key.