Pasta 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 pasta with anchovies recipe!
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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.
Read more about members of my family along with recipes they’ve given me!
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 pasta with anchovies to my site! Because I currently have over 50 recipes on my “to-make list”, 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? You can also read more about my dad here.
Dad has converted a great many friends and aquaintances who “don’t like anchovies” with this recipe. He seems to think guys are more prevalently the ones who go nuts over it.
Years ago when we worked in a factory, one of his coworkers couldn’t believe he brought spaghetti and anchovies to work so often. He’d give him a hard time and never wanted to taste it, until he DID. He couldn’t believe how good it was, and started making it himself!
Try my seafood pasta with shrimp and scallops, too!
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!
Pasta with Anchovies
recipe by Bernardo Conte serves 2 to 3
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- (a shot of whisky-optional)
- 8 oz pasta (dad prefers spaghetti)
- 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
Spaghetti with an anchovy sauce that my Dad makes all the time. Everyone who tries it, loves it!
Ingredients
- (a shot of whisky-optional)
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 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
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!
Notes
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano is optional as fish and cheese together is usually a no no in Italy. 😂 My dad begs to differ!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 416Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 384mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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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!!