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Pasta with Broccoli and Anchovies

17/11/2023

Pasta with broccoli and anchovies is a delicious and simple dish to prepare. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne, orecchiette, or another shape of your choice)
  • 300 g of broccoli
  • 4 anchovy fillets in oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Red chili pepper (to taste)
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Toasted breadcrumbs (optional, for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Clean the broccoli, divide it into florets, and wash them under running water. In a large pot, boil some salted water and cook the broccoli for about 5-7 minutes until they are tender but still crunchy.

  2. While the broccoli is cooking, in a large pan, brown the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil. Add the anchovy fillets and let them melt over low heat, being careful not to burn the garlic.

  3. If you like, also add some chopped red chili pepper to give the dish a bit of spiciness.

  4. Drain the broccoli, reserving some of the cooking water, and add them to the pan with the garlic and anchovies. Sauté everything in the pan for a few minutes, lightly crushing the broccoli so that they are well flavored.

  5. In a separate pot, cook the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions for ‘al dente’ cooking.

  6. Drain the pasta reserving some of the cooking water and add it to the pan with the broccoli and anchovies, mixing well. If necessary, add some of the broccoli’s cooking water to make the sauce more fluid.

  7. Stir-fry for a minute so the pasta blends perfectly with the seasoning.

  8. Serve the pasta hot, garnishing with toasted breadcrumbs if you wish to add a crunchy note.

Curiosity

In many areas of Southern Italy, the combination of green vegetables and anchovies is highly appreciated for their strong contrast in flavors. Anchovies, or ‘acciugati’ as they are called in some parts of Italy, add an intense and salty taste, which fits perfectly in the context of the sweet and light flavor of broccoli. Pasta with broccoli and anchovies is an example of how Italian cuisine knows how to enhance the taste of simple ingredients with a few masterful touches.

Pasta with Broccoli and Anchovies