Spaghetti with Anchovies is one of my Dad’s favorite dishes and one he often cooks for himself. He’s turned so many others onto this simple Italian recipe, I decided to share.
Are you ready for something a little different? I have a guest cook for this post!
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My parents often come to visit us in California because they live in Michigan. Given the weather that the Midwest has endured this winter, you’ll probably understand why. While my Mum is busy cooking and cleaning, my Dad likes to potter around outside.
My crazy Dad
He trims the hedges, picks avocados, seeks and destroys every dandelion he can find in my lawn, and just does odd jobs around the yard. He also loves to knock down, smash, tear out, cut down and generally, just demolish things.
This is nice as many of these are usually things I have to do, but he has been making me crazy by asking me over and over if I’ve added Spaghetti with Anchovies to my blog! Because I have over 50 recipes on my “to-make list” for my blog, I finally told him he can do it–and he did (in video).
I must apologize because my filming skills are lacking, my editing isn’t great, and Dad isn’t used to being in front of the camera (he’s a retired photographer), but it’s a short, fun clip (especially the outtakes at the end) and it gets the job done.
My dad is a nut, if you can’t tell from the photos; but he’s truly passionate about his food, especially pasta! Gee, do you think it’s in our DNA?
Dad has converted a great many “non-anchovy eaters” with this recipe (he says guys seem to be the ones who go nuts over it). The printed recipe is below the link to the video. Let me know what you think, and I hope you also enjoy the outtakes at the end (my mother is going to kill me)!
And before anyone comments that he looks like Dustin Hoffman, I don’t see it, except for maybe the hair. And by the way, have you ever seen that much hair on a 78 year old? It’s all that pasta!
Click the link below to see the video:
How to Make Spaghetti with Anchovies starring My Dad, Ben!
Spaghetti with Anchovies
recipe by Bernardo Conte (printable recipe below)
serves 2 to 3
Ingredients
- (a shot of whisky-optional)
- 8 oz spaghetti (top quality, like De Cecco)
- Kosher or sea salt for the pasta water
- 2 tbsp top quality extra virgin olive oil
- 2 to 3 cloves of crushed, or chopped garlic (the smaller the pieces, the stronger the garlic flavor)
- 1 heaped tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped
- fresh cayenne pepper(s), optional, as desired, fresh or dried
- 4 or 5 anchovies (under olive oil)
- 1/3 cup (3 to 4 oz) dry white wine
- black pepper
- (grated Parmesan is optional as fish and cheese together is usually a no no in Italy) 😂
(Take the shot of whisky and proceed.)
Cook the pasta as directed on the box.
Now, while the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, chopped garlic, parsley, fresh or dried cayenne peppers, and anchovies. Sauté for a few minutes, until the garlic begins to brown and the anchovies disintegrate, or dissolve (for lack of better terms).
After a minute or two, add the white wine, and stir well.
Next, remove from heat and set aside until the pasta is ready.
When the pasta is cooked, place the sauce on a burner over low heat, and with a pasta scoop, remove the spaghetti from the pot and add it to the anchovy sauce, taking care not to overly drain the pasta, or it will be too dry.
Stir well; remove from heat.
Serve immediately with freshly ground black pepper and (grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Italy.) This last part is optional as Italians frown on cheese with fish. That’s Dad’s Scottish side!
I asked Dad to share one more thing with you, his bird whistle-click here!
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My Nutty, Scottish-Italian Dad's Video Tutorial on How to Make Spaghetti with Anchovies
Ingredients
- (a shot of whisky-optional)
- 8 oz spaghetti (top quality, like De Cecco)
- Kosher or sea salt for the pasta water
- 2 tbsp top quality extra virgin olive oil
- 2 to 3 cloves of crushed, or chopped garlic (the smaller the pieces, the stronger the garlic flavor)
- 1 heaped tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped
- fresh cayenne pepper(s), optional, as desired
- 4 or 5 anchovies (under olive oil)
- 1/3 cup (3 to 4 oz) dry white wine
- black pepper
- (grated Parmesan is optional as fish and cheese together is usually a no no in Italy) 😂
Instructions
Cook the pasta as directed on the box.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
In a frying pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, chopped garlic, parsley, fresh or dried cayenne peppers, and anchovies and sauté for a few minutes, until the garlic begins to brown and the anchovies disintegrate, or dissolve (for lack of better terms).
After a minute or two, add the white wine, and stir well.
Remove from heat and set aside until the pasta is ready.
When the pasta is cooked, place the sauce on a burner over low heat, and with a pasta scoop, remove the spaghetti from the pot and add it to the anchovy sauce, taking care not to overly drain the pasta, or it will be too dry.
Stir well; remove from heat.
Serve immediately with freshly ground black pepper and (grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Italy.) This last part is optional as Italians frown on cheese with fish. That's Dad's Scottish side!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
small bowlAmount Per Serving:Calories: 323 Total Fat: 16g Carbohydrates: 24g Protein: 12g
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Your dad is WAY better looking than Dustin!
Hi Christina,
Everyone loved the anchovies and pasta dish Christmas Eve.
Thanks.
Have a wonderful start to the New Year!
Wishing you and your prosperity, joy, happiness, health and all your dreams come true!
Cheers!
Luisa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.
That’s wonderful, Luisa! Thank you so much for letting me know and the same to you and yours for a fabulous 2018!! :)
Hi Christina,
I loved the video. I had so much fun watching it!
I’ll be making this dish on Christmas Eve, as my older son loves it!
I will make it with the white wine too, rather than adding more olive oil!
Thanks for all your recipes, great pictures and now videos!
I enjoy all of them immensely!
Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year in 2018!
All the best!
Luisa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada?
[…] Spaghetti with Anchovies ~ Super quick and easy recipe […]
[…] where we took part in Karen’s Lavender & Lovage Cookery School). You must watch Christina’s Dad making this anchovy sauce recipe! Although it’s not traditional with these noodles, we thought it was […]
Christina – I loved this video so much – it’s hilarious! Your Dad is a hoot – now I know where you get that nuttiness :-D
And what an accent too. The editing and clips are also so much fun – I was in hysterics when you cut him off at the putanesca sauce story. And these end clips. Feel like we’re there with you. Oh, and by the way, the sauce looks super! Dying to meet your Dad now too.
My Dad being a hoot is an understatement! :)
[…] Dad’s Spaghetti with Anchovies (includes a funny video) […]
Great video and loved your dad. He has inspired me to try using anchovies.
Oh thank you SO much for commenting, Martynn! I will tell him and it will make his day! Thanks and hope you enjoy the dish! :) CC
Great fun, Christina! And, while your father may not look like Dustin Hoffman, I can see DH playing him in the movie of your life! I loved that your mother was laughing so hard that she was crying! Coincidentally, I made pasta with anchovies yesterday! Great recipe – and fun video! ~ David
Wow that was coincidental! Yes, my father has that effect on people! :) Thanks for taking the time to watch :)
Great video Christina, love your Dad, he is too cute and that pasta dish is delicious.
Thank you so very much! CC
What a fun post! My husband loves anchovies, so I’m sure he’d love to try this.
And, I love your photo!
Yay!! Thanks, Susan!!
This video is awesome! Congrats to your Dad for this beautiful recipe which tastes so good even through the screen!! Can’t wait to try it myself :) -Del’s cooking twist
Will let him know, Del! He loves to hear that people are trying this recipe! ;)
How terrific, the video was awesome! your dad was great, and I love the recipe. I used to make a similar dish years ago, I think it’s time to revise it. Thanks so much for sharing this. Pinned/shared.
Thank you Joanne! Hope you enjoy it if you make it! CC
What a fun post from your dad! Looks yummy too.
Thank you, Nancy!
This is absolutely fantastic! I love it! And the pasta both looks and sounds amazing too! What a wonderful idea for a guest post :)
Hopefully I will do more, Nicole…my mother’s the real “cook” in the family, but she’s camera shy!
How awesome, I love this recipe and story! Anything to do with a PASTA recipe makes me thrilled, and this one looks unique and tasty!
Thanks, Heidy!! :)
Christina…I just loved this blog post! Your dad is just so endearing and his recipe looks incredibly delicious! Thank you for sharing a piece of your dad with us!
You’re welcome, Linda-I’m really glad you enjoyed it! :)
I can’t stop smiling and giggling all the way through the video. Your dad is so CUTE!
Haha! He’s a character! ;)
Hi Christina, What a fun blog post. I really enjoyed your dad’s video and the recipe looks very inviting. Your dad is very funny and I loved the out takes. Sometimes they are so much fun to see. Great job on the video and I have to try this recipe. My mom and I have a recipe very similar except that we also put in cut cauliflower and some onions, then put it with the pasta and bake it. Excellent, I will have to post it soon. (PS: love your dad’s accent, he is so adorable). Something to treasure in years to come. Thanks for sharing this….Cheers! Dottie :)
Wonderful, Dottie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! ;)
I completely love this! How wonderful to have your dad do a guest post! Fantastic!!!
Thanks so much, Kecia! :)
Thank you! Both of you! I know what I will be making soon :)
Hope you love it, Medeja!!