Spaghetti with Pesto, Anchovies, and Bell Peppers

Spaghetti with pesto, anchovies, and bell peppers is a dish that combines the tradition of Genoese pesto with the savoriness of anchovies and the sweetness of bell peppers, thus creating a truly pleasant balance of flavors for the palate. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 320g of spaghetti
• 200g of Genoese pesto
• 100g of anchovies in oil
• 2 bell peppers (of different colors for a more colorful dish, for example, red and yellow)
• 1 garlic clove
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Wash the bell peppers, remove the seeds and the white inner parts and cut them into strips or cubes.
2. In a pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add a garlic clove to flavor the oil. You can remove it before browning if you prefer a less intense flavor.
3. Add the strips of bell peppers and sauté over medium heat until they are soft but still slightly crispy.
4. While the bell peppers are cooking, bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
5. Cook the spaghetti until al dente, following the cooking times indicated on the package.
6. Drain the anchovies from the preservation oil, and if necessary, split them into fillets.
7. Drain the spaghetti keeping a bit of the cooking water.
8. Remove the garlic from the pan with the peppers and add the spaghetti, anchovies, and Genoese pesto. If necessary, add a bit of the reserved cooking water to make the sauce creamier.
9. Toss everything in the pan for a few minutes to allow the spaghetti to absorb the flavors of the dressing.
10. Adjust salt and, if you like, add a sprinkling of black pepper.

Serve immediately, possibly accompanied by a glass of fresh white wine which well complements the freshness of the pesto and the strong taste of the anchovies.

Curiosity

The combination of pesto with anchovies is not among the most traditional in Italy; however, this recipe represents an excellent example of how dishes can be reinvented with a touch of creativity, giving life to new and surprising flavors.