Can I Omit The Chilli From The Spaghetti With Lemon Garlic And Breadcrumbs?

Our answer

Nigella's Spaghetti With Lemon And Garlic Breadcrumbs (from NIGELLISSIMA) is a quick pasta dish where the pasta is coated in a sauce made from a combination of olive oil and lemon juice, emulsified with a little starchy pasta-cooking water, and topped with zesty lemon and parsley breadcrumbs (pangratto). Using pangratto on pasta originated in the south of Italy as an alternative to expensive Parmesan cheese.

The dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) add a little heat, which gives the dish a little extra dimension. It is in the background, rather than being overpowering. However, if you are allergic to chillies then you can of course leave them out. If you wanted to add spice in a different way then you could always add some extra freshly-ground black pepper to the pasta, to suit your own taste.