Bright Acidity Shines in These Lemon-Kissed Recipes

It appears as a garnish on countless plates, its juice flavors countless dishes. But we think it's time for lemon to take its place at the altar and prove that its bright, tart savor can star in any dish.

From creamy risotto to zesty potato salad to sweet desserts, we've rounded up our favorite lemon recipes. Joseph De Leo Creamy Orzo Risotto with Meyer Lemon and Wild Mushrooms Simmering orzo slowly with butter, shallots, and chicken stock and enriched it with cream yields a silky, risotto-like texture.

Roasted Potatoes with Lemon Olive Oil Simple roasted baby potatoes with whole garlic cloves are the perfect foil for a zesty lemon and olive oil emulsion. Lemon Parmesan Dip Creamy and bright-tasting, lemon parmesan dip makes for an excellent accompaniment to a chip or crudité platter. Get the recipe for Lemon Soufflé » Sumac Roast Chicken with Lemon and Garlic Lemon Granita Like a frozen lemonade, this refreshing dessert is achieved with little more than lemon juice, sugar, and time.

Get the method for Lemon Granita » The Best Damn Meyer Lemon Cake Lemon extract, juice, and zest permeate a rich and moist loaf to create what really is is the best damn lemon cake we’ve ever had. Lemon-Thyme Lamb Chops (L’agneau Grillé au Thym) These grilled lamb chops are simply grilled with nothing more than olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Lemon Risotto Complement this dish’s intense lemon flavors with a hefeweizen served with a lemon wedge. Corsican Lemon Mousse This rich, silky mousse brightened with tangy lemons makes an elegant end to a meal.

Salmon Glazed with Rosemary- and Lemon-Infused Honey Rosemary-infused honey gives this dish a sweet and aromatic savor. Get the method for Salmon Glazed with Rosemary- and Lemon-Infused Honey » Lemony Fried Cauliflower In this take on a traditional Sephardic Jewish dish, culupidia frita con limón , cauliflower are coated in a flour and egg batter, fried, and then bathed in lemon juice.

As a side or a snack, it’s crunchy, tender, and brimming with fresh, tangy taste. Get the method for Lemony Fried Cauliflower » Roast Chicken with Saffron and Lemon Roast chicken is a classic dish all over the world.

In this beautiful version from Spain, the bird is rubbed with musky, floral saffron and stuffed with lemons and fresh rosemary before being popped in the oven. Lemon-Pepper Tuna Sandwich Peppery arugula and zesty red onion are an ideal garnish for this flavorful, light, lemon-pepper tuna salad.

Herbed Lemon Quinoa Herbed Lemon Quinoa Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad Homemade lemon mayonnaise adds zesty taste to these tender, coarsely mashed potatoes. Get the recipe for Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad » Avgolemono Avgolemono, a simple Mediterranean soup of eggs, lemons, and chicken broth, is the Mediterranean equivalent of chicken noodle soup.

Get the method for Avgolemono » Lemon Bars Lemon bars are a light, brightly-flavored dessert, best served with a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar. Get the method for Lemon Bars » Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins A quintessential muffin method combines the nutty flavor of poppy seeds with a generous hit of fresh lemon zest.