Bright Acidity Shines in These Lemon-Kissed Recipes

By SAVEUR Editors | Published Apr 6, 2020 3:07 PM

Recipes by Ingredient

Lemon is at once pervasive and underappreciated. It appears as a garnish on countless plates, its juice flavors countless dishes. Always a bridesmaid, lemon seems destined to play a supporting role, albeit an important one. But we think it's time for lemon to take its place at the altar and prove that its bright, tart flavor can star in any dish. From creamy risotto to zesty potato salad to sweet desserts, we've rounded up our favorite lemon recipes. Joseph De Leo

Creamy Orzo Risotto with Meyer Lemon and Wild Mushrooms

Simmering orzo slowly with butter, shallots, and chicken stock and enriched it with cream yields a silky, risotto-like texture.

Roasted Potatoes with Lemon Olive Oil

Simple roasted baby potatoes with whole garlic cloves are the perfect foil for a zesty lemon and olive oil emulsion.

Lemon-Infused Spaghetti with Oil and Provolone

Broccoli Rabe with White Beans and Preserved Lemon

Use leftover dough from the butter crust of this creamy lemon custard pastry to make decorative cookies to adorn the outside.

Lemon Parmesan Dip

Creamy and bright-tasting, lemon parmesan dip makes for an excellent accompaniment to a chip or crudité platter.

Lemon Soufflé

There is something about a souffle—a magical blending of eggs, air, and acid—that turns any meal into an unforgettable event. Get the recipe for Lemon Soufflé »

Sumac Roast Chicken with Lemon and Garlic

Lemon Granita

Like a frozen lemonade, this refreshing dessert is achieved with little more than lemon juice, sugar, and time. Get the recipe for Lemon Granita »

The Best Damn Meyer Lemon Cake

Lemon extract, juice, and zest permeate a rich and moist loaf to create what really is is the best damn lemon cake we’ve ever had.

Lemon-Thyme Lamb Chops (L’agneau Grillé au Thym)

These grilled lamb chops are simply grilled with nothing more than olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Lemon Risotto

Complement this dish’s intense lemon flavors with a hefeweizen served with a lemon wedge.

Corsican Lemon Mousse

This rich, silky mousse brightened with tangy lemons makes an elegant end to a meal.

Salmon Glazed with Rosemary- and Lemon-Infused Honey

Rosemary-infused honey gives this dish a sweet and aromatic flavor. Get the recipe for Salmon Glazed with Rosemary- and Lemon-Infused Honey »

Lemony Fried Cauliflower

In this take on a traditional Sephardic Jewish dish, culupidia frita con limón, cauliflower are coated in a flour and egg batter, fried, and then bathed in lemon juice. As a side or a snack, it’s crunchy, tender, and brimming with fresh, tangy flavor. Get the recipe for Lemony Fried Cauliflower »

Roast Chicken with Saffron and Lemon

Roast chicken is a classic dish all over the world. In this beautiful version from Spain, the bird is rubbed with musky, floral saffron and stuffed with lemons and fresh rosemary before being popped in the oven.

Lemon-Pepper Tuna Sandwich

Peppery arugula and zesty red onion are an ideal garnish for this flavorful, light, lemon-pepper tuna salad.

Herbed Lemon Quinoa

Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad

Homemade lemon mayonnaise adds zesty flavor to these tender, coarsely mashed potatoes. Get the recipe for Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad »

Avgolemono

Avgolemono, a simple Mediterranean soup of eggs, lemons, and chicken broth, is the Mediterranean equivalent of chicken noodle soup. Get the recipe for Avgolemono »