Spaghetti with Butter, Anchovies, and Crispy Bread

Spaghetti with butter, anchovies, and crispy bread is a simple yet flavorful dish. Here’s how to make this delicious pasta.

Ingredients

• Spaghetti: 320 g
• Butter: 50 g
• Anchovy fillets in oil: 6
• Garlic: 1 clove
• Stale bread: 100 g
• Extra virgin olive oil: as needed
• Hot pepper: 1 (optional)
• Chopped parsley: as needed (for garnish)

Preparation

1. Begin by toasting the stale bread. Cut it into small cubes and toast it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it turns golden and crisp. Then set it aside.

2. Cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted water until al dente.

3. Meanwhile, in another pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the crushed garlic (and the hot pepper if you like a spicy touch) to flavor the butter. Let it sauté for a couple of minutes.

4. Cut the anchovy fillets in oil into small pieces and add them to the melted butter. Let the anchovies slightly dissolve, stirring gently to blend them with the butter.

5. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, reserving some cooking water. Add the spaghetti to the pan with the butter and anchovies and mix well. If necessary, add a little of the cooking water to keep the dish moist and creamy.

6. Serve the spaghetti hot, sprinkling the crispy bread that you set aside on top, and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley for a touch of freshness.

Curiosity

This dish is an “enriched” variant of spaghetti with anchovies, a classic of the humble Italian cuisine, especially in the South of Italy. The addition of butter makes it creamier and more northern in style, while the crispy bread provides a pleasing contrast in texture. It’s an example of how few simple, yet quality ingredients can create a delicious and satisfying dish.