- Ina Garten’s lemon capellini is her go-to New Year’s Eve dish.
- The pasta comes together in minutes with butter, lemon and caviar.
- It’s easy, elegant and perfect for entertaining without the stress.
If you’re looking for an impressive dish to serve your guests on New Year’s Eve (that won’t leave you exhausted before the party even begins), you might want to take a literal page out of Ina Garten’s book. In fact, the Barefoot Contessa told TODAY show hosts that her Lemon Capellini with caviar is “the easiest thing to make” and her go-to for the special night.
And when she said “easy,” she really meant it. The dish comes together quickly, and with just a few simple steps that result in pasta cooked to perfection and a creamy, vibrant sauce. To recreate it in your kitchen, simply begin by boiling capellini pasta (a thin pasta that’s very similar to angel hair) in abundantly salted water.
While the pasta is cooking, create the sauce by adding butter, fresh lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper to a pan over medium-low heat. Once the pasta reaches an al dente texture (about 3 to 4 minutes), remove it from the pot with tongs, then place it directly into the sauce and mix thoroughly. The excess cooking water that adheres to the pasta will thicken the sauce and also help keep the pasta from drying out.
Ina says to finish the dish with “a big dollop of caviar on top,” plus an extra sprinkling of lemon zest, and serve it immediately.
The original recipe for Ina’s Lemon Capellini with Caviar first appeared in her debut cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, where she suggested adding oil to the pasta cooking water. In 2017, she shared what is essentially the same recipe on her long-running Food Network cooking show, Barefoot Contessa, but omitted both the caviar and the oil. While the caviar elevates the dish, it’s just as delicious without it—and many Italian chefs agree that adding oil to pasta cooking water is a step that should be avoided, as it can actually coat the pasta and repel sauces. You definitely want all that buttery, lemony goodness to absorb into the pasta.
However you choose to garnish Ina’s lemon pasta recipe—be it with caviar, shrimp or fresh herbs—it’s an effortless dish that’s sure to wow your guests. Plus, with a recipe this quick, you can spend less time over the stove and more time enjoying dinner with friends.
If you’re wondering what to serve with it, we know of a few EatingWell classics that are equally impressive and easy to make. That includes this simple green salad that features peppery arugula, fresh basil and parsley with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. For mains, take a peek at this chicken saltimbocca recipe that has a crispy, salty prosciutto layer. Serve these dishes and Ina’s pasta in courses for a traditional supper or create a buffet to make the evening even more stress-free and focused on what matters most: fun with family and friends.
Just don’t forget to wind down the evening with a treat, like these Italian hazelnut cookies, and, of course, a bubbly cocktail (or mocktail) to toast to the new year.
