Adriana's Lemon Pesto Spaghetti

Procida is a tiny little island just off Naples which was the location for The Talented Mr Ripley and was awarded Italy’s Capital for Culture for 2022. Lemons in this part of the world are large, sweet and fragrant. Despite the fame and attention, village life continues. Adriana, Antonietta, Enza, Maria, and Teresa are neighbours and friends through the local choir who share a love of cooking. Originally they demonstrated 3 recipes, which you can watch on Pasta Grannies, and this is the one that is brilliant for unexpected friends, or when you want to cook something really quick that tastes like a long weekend in Italy. Adriana remembers: ‘my mother used to make this pesto in winter, because that is when lemons are ready to be picked. We’d buy or forage the pine cones in the summer, then come the cold weather we’d dry the pine nuts near the fire place before using them in this pesto. We added parsley and mint, because basil is a summer herb, but of course you can use this too. And, you know, in those days we didn’t use Parmigiano - we made this pesto with pecorino cheese’.