Aromatic, Lemony Dishes That’ll Transport You to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

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I used to be solely eight years previous the primary time I stepped foot on the Amalfi Coast, and plenty of of my reminiscences of the place are placing and vivid—as if I had simply come again from a visit. However as a result of I used to be so younger, others are fleeting and imperfect.

I bear in mind sneaking a sip of limoncello (a liqueur created from lemon peels) as my dad and mom seemed away and discovering its syrupy, neon-yellow style far too candy for my liking. (As we speak, I’d by no means flip down an after-dinner sip of the stuff.) I’ve flashbacks of my mom clutching me because the tour bus driver whipped across the area’s steep, winding cliffs with wild abandon en path to another coastal city, most likely Sorrento. And whereas I can’t recall each single factor that we ate, I bear in mind our meals being magical: oceanside terraces, fresh-caught seafood I devoured up like sweet, and all of the pasta I may ever need.

However whereas many of those experiences solely come again to me after flipping by way of an previous picture album, there’s one second—and scent—I’ll always remember: the lemons.

It was the summer season, so the lemons have been ripe on the vine and the scale of my head (or no less than they appeared prefer it on the time). I vividly recall strolling by way of lush, terraced groves; the intoxicating scent of pure lemon was in all places. Then, our tour information provided me a chew of 1. I hesitated, since each lemon I had tasted earlier than this had been bitter, however took one in any case. It was candy! And juicy, too. It was essentially the most refreshing piece of fruit I had ever tried.

Ever since, at any time when I make something with lemons—even once they’re not Amalfi’s well-known sfusato lemons, that are greater and sweeter than the varieties you may discover in your grocery retailer—I am taken proper again to the Italian coast, the Mediterranean waves lapping up in opposition to the rocky shore and the scent of lemons within the air.

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Right here, I’ve collected just a few of my favourite lemony dishes, just like the octopus and potato salad above, a tastes-like-the-ocean dish yow will discover all alongside the Italian coast. The tender potatoes, thinly sliced celery, and recent parsley make the right complement to octopus that’s gently simmered in white wine till tender (learn: not chewy). In the event you’re fortunate sufficient to get your palms on some actual Amalfi lemons once they’re in season—which is coming to an in depth now, after summer season’s peak—use them! That being mentioned, unwaxed natural or Meyer lemons are a good substitute for when you’ll be able to’t make a visit to southern Italy.

This story was up to date in July 2025 to incorporate much more lemony recipes since we nonetheless love lemons