Pasta with white anchovies can make for a delicious and flavorful dish. White anchovies, also known as boquerones, are typically milder and less salty than their canned counterparts. Here’s a simple recipe for pasta with white anchovies:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (about 225 grams) of your favorite pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine work well)
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for some heat)
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup white anchovies (boquerones), drained and roughly chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Add the white wine to the skillet and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the alcohol to cook off.
- Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Add the chopped white anchovies to the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring gently to combine all the ingredients.
- Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. If the sauce seems too dry, you can add a bit of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together to ensure the pasta is well-coated with the sauce.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and, if you like, grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious pasta with white anchovies!
Feel free to customize the recipe by adding other ingredients like olives, capers, or lemon zest to enhance the flavors.
