Perfect Pantry Pasta alla Lexi Mestas
This recipe come from my friend Lexi Mestas, a Philadelphia based food professional I had the pleasure of studying with in Rome a few years ago. She has a ton of great recipes on her page that keep nutrition, finance and accessibility in mind.
This anchovy and breadcrumb pasta is one of my favorites I've ever made. The simple, bright flavors bring you straight to the Amalfi coast and in times like these who cant use a little mental vacay?
Check out her page for more gems like this!
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, toasted
-If homemade:
- 2 cups cubed bread (French, Focaccia, Ciabatta, or any hearty bread)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for salting water
- 2 anchovy filets
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or butter
- 2 cups pasta water, reserved
Directions:
1. If making your own breadcrumbs, preheat the oven to 375 F. Toss cubed bread with tbsp olive oil, thyme, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Bake for 20 minutes until a deep brown color. Pulse on high in a food process or blender until the bread is reduced to fine breadcrumbs. Reserve.
2. If using prepared breadcrumbs, pulse on high in a food process with thyme, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt for 5 seconds until spices are incorporated and reduced to fine grains. Toast in a large skillet on medium-high heat until golden brown. Reserve.
3. In a large skillet on medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil or butter and anchovies. Constantly moving the anchovies, they will melt into a paste. Add garlic and stir constantly until golden brown. Reduce heat to low.
4. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Salt your water like the ocean - about 3 tbsp. Add spaghetti and boil until its cooked al dente. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water.
5. Remove pasta from pasta water and place immediately into your skillet with anchovies and garlic - toss to coat. Return to medium heat, add lemon juice and 31 cup of reserved pasta water. Continuously swirl your pasta as a sauce thickens and begins to cling to your pasta. If it evaporates too quickly, add 1 more cup of pasta water and continue swirling until the sauce is thick, clinging to the pasta. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil or butter and swirl to combine.
6. Top with breadcrumbs and serve immediately.
