Anchovy Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs

    Anchovy Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs

    Ingredients

    10 garlic cloves

    5 oz of cubed bread

    1 tsp lemon zest

    1/2 cup olive oil

    1 tin anchovy stuffed olives

    1 Tbsp lemon juice

    1/2 cup finely grated pecorino or parmesan

    1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

    2 Tbsp unsalted butter

    454g spaghetti, linguine, or bucatini

    1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)

    Salt & Pepper to taste

    Directions

    Very thinly slice 5 garlic cloves (a mandoline works great) and set aside. Pulse remaining 5 garlic cloves in a food processor until finely chopped. Add bread and lemon zest and pulse until coarse crumbs form; season with salt and pepper.
    Heat 1⁄4 cup oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Cook breadcrumb mixture, stirring often, until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer breadcrumb mixture with a slotted spoon to a small bowl.

    Pulse the anchovy stuffed olives with the rest of the olive oil until quite smooth. Heat in a large pot.

    Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 3 minutes less than package directions.

    Using tongs, transfer pasta to pot with sauce along with 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Cook, tossing often, until pasta is al dente. Add 3 Tbsp. pasta cooking liquid, then gradually add cheese, tossing until melted and emulsified. Remove from heat, add parsley, butter, and half of breadcrumb mixture and toss until combined and butter is melted. If pasta seems dry, add more pasta cooking liquid and oil and toss again. Season with salt and pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.

    Divide pasta among bowls. Top with remaining breadcrumb mixture.

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