Spaghetti with Butter, Anchovies, and Crispy Bread

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

Ingredients

• Spaghetti: 320 g
• Butter: 50 g
• Anchovies in oil: 6 fillets
• Garlic: 1 clove
• Stale bread: 100 g
• Extra virgin olive oil: to taste
• Chili pepper: 1 (optional)
• Chopped parsley: to taste (for garnish)

Preparation

1. Start 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 golden and crispy. 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 chili 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 pieces and add them to the melted butter. Let the anchovies dissolve slightly, stirring gently to combine 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 bit of the cooking water to keep the dish moist and creamy.

6. Serve the spaghetti hot, sprinkling them with the crispy bread you set aside and a dusting of chopped parsley for a touch of freshness.

Fun Fact

This dish is an “enriched” variant of spaghetti with anchovies, one of the classics of Italian peasant cuisine, especially from Southern Italy. The addition of butter makes it creamier and more Northern, while the crispy bread adds a pleasant contrast in texture. It is an example of how a few simple but high-quality ingredients can create a delicious and satisfying dish.