Garlicky Spaghetti with Anchovies, Pine Nuts & Fresh Chili

Spaghetti with Anchovies

Category: Pasta Dishes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Prepare the pasta water: Begin by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a boil. Once it starts boiling, add a generous pinch of salt to season the pasta.

2. Chop the aromatics: While waiting for the water to boil, finely chop the parsley, fresh chili, garlic clove, 20g of pine nuts, and 20g of anchovies. Set them aside.

3. Cook the anchovies: Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the remaining anchovies to the pan. Allow them to melt into the oil, infusing it with their flavor.

4. Add the tomato paste: Once the anchovies have dissolved, stir in the tomato paste along with a splash of hot water to create a smooth, rich sauce. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes.

5. Combine with the chopped aromatics: Add the pre-chopped garlic, parsley, chili, and the remaining 10g of anchovies into the skillet. Stir well to combine the flavors.

6. Cook the spaghetti: Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. When the pasta is done, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.

7. Toss the pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the skillet with the anchovy sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta in the flavorful sauce. If necessary, add some reserved pasta cooking water to help the sauce adhere to the pasta.

8. Garnish and serve: Finally, sprinkle the remaining pine nuts over the top of the dish for added texture and flavor. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Pro Tip: For an extra kick, feel free to increase the amount of fresh chili to suit your taste. This dish brings together the salty, umami flavor of anchovies with the heat of chili, making it a simple yet deeply satisfying pasta recipe.