Sicilian Anchovy Pasta with Toasted Breadcrumbs

I haven’t had the pleasure of exploring Sicily yet however it’s on my ever-expanding list of places to visit.

When I do go, I’ll be eagerly seeking out ‘pasta c'anciova e muddica’ – anchovy pasta with toasted breadcrumbs.

I've recently introduced a new addition to the pasta -- the poached egg. And it's here to stay.

The rustic recipe features in my household at least once a week. Even when I’ve run out of most basic of fridge staples like milk and bread, I know I’ve got jars or tins of plump anchovies, bread crumbs and chili flakes at hand.

I have to admit however that my love for the anchovies is rather recent. For many years, my feelings towards anchovies were dominated by teenage memories of my tongue being assaulted by the vile little fish often found scattered over other people's pizzas.

Now it’s hard to imagine my kitchen without them. Whether used in Sicilian pasta, a Caesar salad or a creamy mayonnaise, good anchovies lend that burst of sweet, salty pungency that’s hard, if not impossible, to substitute.

I read somewhere once that physically, anchovies can be treated much like garlic. They can be finely chopped and stirred into a vinaigrette or compound butter. Pounded into smooth paste to intensify a creamy risotto or sautéed whole with onions and garlic to form the delicious base of a pasta or stew.

Good anchovies should taste of the sea but not be overly fishy. They come salt or oil-packed in jars or tins. After sampling many different brands, I have found the best-tasting anchovies to hail from the coast of Spain. I opt for fillets stored in extra virgin olive oil. They are more intensely flavoured without the piercing saltiness of salt packed anchovies.

Sicilian Anchovy Pasta with Toasted Breadcrumbs
(Serves 2)

2 room temperature eggs
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1/4 - 1/2 tsp of dried chili flakes
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
8-10 anchovy fillets, roughly chopped
1/2 Tbsp of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Angel hair pasta for 2 (about 200g)
Good quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
1/4 cup of breadcrumbs
Salt for pasta water

Method:

1. Poach the eggs. (See method). Place poached eggs in a bowl of cool water until needed.
   Bring salted water to the boil in a large saucepan. The water to pasta ratio is 10:1.
2. Meanwhile, in a large frying-pan, sweat the onions in 1/4 cup of olive oil over a medium heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes or until they are translucent.
3. Add the chili flakes and garlic and stir-fry for 20 seconds. Next, add the chopped anchovies and stir to combine.
4. Fry for a further 2 minutes, stirring occasionally and then add the chopped parsley. Stir well then remove frying-pan from heat and set aside.
5. In a separate, dry toast the bread crumbs over a medium heat. Shake the pan around to toast the crumbs evenly and keep your eye on them as they burn easily. After about 30 seconds, remove from heat and set aside.
6. Boil the pasta according to pasta instructions and drain.
7. Transfer pasta to the frying pan with the anchovy mixture in it and toss well to coat. Sprinkle on a little sea salt and toss again.
8. Remove poached eggs from water with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper towels.
9. Divide pasta equally amongst two serving bowls. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle on bread crumbs and then top with a poached egg.
10. Serve immediately.

Check out more anchovy recipes...

Homemade Herbed Mayonnaise
 

Classic Caesar Salad

Comments

[Rosa]

That is a lovely pasta dish!

Cheers,

Rosa

[Food]

Yummy...yummy...pasta
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Viva-Magazine-Your-Premium-Womens-Natural-Health-Magazine/262734921452?ref=ts

[Joseph]

This recipe is right up my alley,I just love
ANCHOVYS, put them in recipes wherever I can.We need more recipes like this.
Thank You
RECIPEJOE
rumple@comcast.net

[heather]

Oh wow. I've made anchovy breadcrumb pasta before, but never with a poached egg on top -- how decadent! My boyfriend will eat this up. Literally.

Cheers,

*Heather*

[Amanda]

I have never ever eaten anchovies, that I'm aware of at least! I know they have a distinct flavor so I'm intrigued. They don't scare me like they used to!

[Manggy]

Now this is my kind of pasta. I swear. I'm bookmarking this and off to the grocer tomorrow. It's 10:30PM and I'm so hungry all of a sudden!

[mycookinghut]

Lovely! I love it with the poached egg!

[Cynthia]

I have been jones-ing for pasta with toasted breadcrumbs, I think I will remedy the situation this weekend thanks to the push from you.

[pigpigscorner]

This sounds gorgeous! So simple yet so flavourful!

[Sophie]

I also make a similar dish in summertime,...I so love this dish!

Yum, Syrie!

[Alex]

Wonderful. The flavours in there must just *pop*

[Pauline]

The pasta so yummy. Thanks for the recipe.

[Mausi]

I agree, sometimes simple pasta taste best! I like how the porched egg looks. Your photos are beautiful. I like anchovies but don't use it often. I would like to incorporate anchovy into my cooking also! Thanks :-)

[Jennifer]

I do so very much agree about pasta! I prefer the simpler dishes. This looks SO good!

[we are never full]

fried or poached, top most things with an egg and I'm not only drooling, but I'm hungry. Putting eggs on pasta and pizza should make anyone believe that the Italians really are genius when it comes to food (as if they didn't know it already!)

[pity]

yes please!
my kind of dish, lovely combination of flavours, it really looks delicious, cheers from london

[Rotisserie Chicken Recipe]

Great recipe! I`m definitely bookmarking this. Thank you.

[Stephanie]

divine!

[Michelle @ Italian Mama Chef]

Looks and sounds delicious. Nothing like my attempt at a similar dish sans the anchovies. Ahh..I will learn this yet. I found you through googling "toasting breadcrumbs".

[additional airtime]

We can often cook and eat fried noodles at home.And we aldo go to the restaurants to eat it because the fried noodles there are more delicious than we cook at home.

[Nikki Sarmiento]

This is so yummy. I am hungry now. :(

[Marleen]

My favourite pasta...I prepare it like Jamie Oliver (Naked Chef)...even my daughter, who despises ansjofish, loves this pasta!!!