Spaghetti con acciughe e mollicas

Spaghetti con Acciughe e Mollica

Spaghetti with Anchovies and Breadcrumbs

Serves 6

Ingredients:

🧂 salt

🍞 1 (3-to-4-inch) chunk day-old country bread

🫒  6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 pound spaghetti

🐟 12 good-quality anchovy fillets, drained

🧄  4 garlic cloves, sliced

🌶️  ¼ to ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes 

🌿  ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Grate the bread on the large holes of a box grater (or pulse in a processor) to make ¾ cup coarse crumbs.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, tossing frequently, until light golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Add the spaghetti to the boiling water. Heat the remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the anchovies and garlic, and cook until the anchovies dissolve into the oil and the garlic is golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the peperoncino. Ladle in 2 cups of pasta cooking water and let simmer rapidly. Reduce to about 1 cup while the pasta cooks.

Once the pasta is al dente, remove with tongs and add to the sauce. Add the parsley and toss to coat the pasta with the sauce, adding a little more pasta water if it seems dry. Add the bread crumbs and toss to mix.