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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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