Il Cucinologo
EN

Spaghetti with Roasted Lemon and Scampi

17/11/2023

Spaghetti with roasted lemon and scampi are a dish that combines the freshness of citrus with the delicacy of scampi, offering a rich and refined taste experience. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

  • 320 grams of spaghetti
  • 300 grams of fresh or frozen scampi
  • 1 large untreated lemon
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Fresh parsley to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Chili pepper (optional)
  • Dry white wine, one glass

Preparation

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 200 °C (if you have the grill function, it’s even better).
  2. Wash the lemon, slice it thinly and arrange the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Roast until lightly caramelized, being careful not to burn them. This may take about 10-15 minutes depending on the oven.
  3. Meanwhile, clean the scampi by removing the head, shell and intestinal vein.
  4. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.
  5. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with the peeled garlic cloves and let them turn golden. If you want a bit of heat, you can add some chili pepper at this point.
  6. Add the scampi to the pan and sear briefly. Deglaze with the dry white wine and let the alcohol evaporate over high heat.
  7. When the lemon is ready, remove the garlic from the pan and add the roasted lemon slices to the scampi.
  8. Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water following the package instructions for al dente texture.
  9. Drain the spaghetti, reserving some of the cooking water, and transfer them to the pan with the scampi and lemon.
  10. Add chopped fresh parsley, salt and pepper to taste and toss everything with a little of the spaghetti cooking water to bind the sauce to the pasta.
  11. Serve hot, with an extra sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired.

Fun Facts

Roasted lemon is not very common in Italy for pasta, but its use in this recipe brings a surprisingly sweet and complex flavor that balances the taste of the seafood.

To accompany these spaghetti you could opt for a slightly aromatic white wine, such as a Vermentino or a Greco di Tufo, whose citrus notes will perfectly complement the dish. Buon appetito!