Spaghetti con acciughe e pangrattato

Ingredienti

• 350 g spaghetti (- 12 oz)
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves
• 40 g anchovies in oil (- ~1 1/2 oz)
• 80 g breadcrumbs (- ~3 oz)

Preparazione

1. 1

   bring to a boil: Start by filling a pot with water and bringing it to a boil for the spaghetti. Don’t add too much salt since the anchovies are already quite salty.

2. 2

   sauté: While waiting for the water to boil, heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan. Add whole garlic cloves to the pan and let them cook until they start to sizzle, which should take a couple of minutes.

3. 3

   add: Once the garlic is sizzling, add the drained anchovy fillets to the pan.

4. 4

   add: To help dissolve the anchovies, pour in a couple of tablespoons of hot water. Stir the mixture well to ensure the anchovies melt into the oil, which should take around 5 minutes.

5. 5

   toast: In a separate pan, heat another 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the breadcrumbs to the pan and stir continuously until they turn golden brown and crispy. Once toasted, set the breadcrumbs aside.

6. 6

   cook: Once the water in the pot is boiling, add the spaghetti and cook for only 5 minutes. After this short initial cooking time, remove the garlic cloves from the frying pan and transfer the partially cooked spaghetti directly into the pan with the anchovy sauce.

7. 7

   cook: Continue cooking the spaghetti in the anchovy sauce for about another 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the pan. If necessary add more. Stir occasionally to ensure the pasta cooks evenly and absorbs the flavors from the sauce.

8. 8

   season: When the spaghetti are fully cooked, turn off the heat. Mix in some of the toasted breadcrumbs, stirring well. If the pasta seems too dry, add a little more of the pasta cooking water. Finally, sprinkle a bit more of the toasted breadcrumbs over the top of the dish.

9. 9

   Serve the spaghetti immediately while it’s still hot. Garnish with a final sprinkle of the toasted breadcrumbs for added crunch and flavor. Enjoy your delicious spaghetti with anchovies and breadcrumbs!