Broccoli Pasta Anchovies Recipes

BROCCOLI & ANCHOVY ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Using a small knife, trim round the broccoli to remove the dark green florets from the main stalks and put them to one side. Peel the stalks, trim off the dry end and throw this away. Peel and chop the garlic.
• Finely chop the broccoli stalk and put into a large pan with the garlic, anchovies and half the butter. Crumble in the chilli, cover with a lid and cook slowly for 8 to 10 minutes while you cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Something I like to do which is slightly different (but better, I'd like to think) is to cook the broccoli florets with the pasta for the last 4 minutes - this makes them soft enough to eat but leaves them with great colour and texture.
• Drain the pasta and broccoli, saving a little of the cooking water, then toss into the other pan. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper, the rest of the butter and finely grate in a large handful of Parmesan. Mix well, adding a little of the cooking water, to loosen, if needed, and make it shine.
• Serve immediately, sprinkling with another good handful of finely grated Parmesan.

MELTED BROCCOLI PASTA WITH CAPERS AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli florets and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the broccoli to a large bowl.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions for al dente, about 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the bread crumbs. Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil in a large, high-sided sauté pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and sauté until the crumbs are golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil into the pan. Add the anchovies and sauté until they disintegrate, about 1 minute. Add the capers, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, and remove from the heat.
• When the pasta is ready, reserve 1½ cups (360 ml) of pasta water with a measuring cup, then drain the pasta. Add the broccoli and reserved pasta water to the pan and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer, using a wooden spoon to break the florets into small pieces as they become more tender, until the water is reduced by about half and you've been able to break apart enough florets that you're left with a very chunky mixture, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the pan. Cook, tossing and stirring, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce thickens and coats the pasta, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add half the toasted bread crumbs, and toss again to combine. Serve garnished with the remaining toasted bread crumbs.

PASTA WITH GARLICKY ANCHOVIES AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until 1 minute shy of al dente. Use a coffee cup or measuring cup to save some pasta water, then drain pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, coarsely chop the parsley, 6 anchovy fillets, scallions, capers (if using) and a pinch of salt. You can chop it all together on a cutting board, or pulse everything briefly together in the food processor; just make sure to keep it coarse.
• Heat a large skillet over medium. Add oil, remaining 4 anchovies and half the garlic, and let cook, stirring, until anchovies start to dissolve, about 1 minute.
• Stir in broccoli rabe, tomato, about two-thirds of the parsley mixture and a pinch of salt to the pan. Sauté until the rabe is tender, 5 to 8 minutes, adding splashes of pasta water as the pan dries out. Taste and season with more salt if necessary.
• Add pasta to pan along with butter, lemon zest, remaining garlic and red-pepper flakes. Toss until the butter melts and the pasta is combined with the vegetables, adding more pasta water if the mixture seems dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide pasta among bowls and sprinkle with remaining parsley mixture. Drizzle with olive oil, and serve with ricotta, if you like.

PASTA WITH BROCCOLI AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Rinse the broccoli and cut it into bite-size florets. If you're feeling thrifty, you can peel and slice the "trunk" into bite-size pieces, too, although using florets only makes for an attractive presentation.
• Peel the garlic and mince it fine. Chop the anchovies fine, discarding any excess oil.
• Heat the olive oil in a small saute pan or skillet over medium-low heat and gently cook the minced garlic with a small shake of dried red-pepper flakes (just enough for an accent; you don't want a fiery dish) until the garlic turns translucent and aromatic. Stir in the chopped anchovies and continue poaching gently for a few minutes, stirring until the anchovies dissolve into the oil. Set aside and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, heat a large pot full of lightly salted water and cook the broccoli and pasta together until the pasta is done; at that point the broccoli will be very soft.
• Drain the broccoli and pasta, catching a bit of the pasta water in a measuring cup. Put the broccoli and pasta in a warm serving bowl and toss with the anchovy and garlic oil and, if necessary, a bit of the pasta water to achieve a thick saucy texture. Serve with crusty bread and a salad as a hearty side dish or main course.

SPAGHETTI WITH BROCCOLI & ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Cook the spaghetti in a large pan of boiling salted water, according to packet instructions. Cut the broccoli into small florets, thinly slice the thick stalks and throw into the pan of pasta for the last 3 minutes of cooking time.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan, add the anchovies and chillies and fry briefly. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes until the crumbs are crunchy and golden.
• Drain the spaghetti and return to the pan. Toss with three quarters of the crumb mixture, some salt and pepper and another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Serve each portion sprinkled with the remaining crumbs.

PASTA WITH ROASTED BROCCOLI, ALMONDS AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a large sheet pan, toss the broccoli with the olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss again. Spread the mixture in an even layer and roast until crisp and lightly browned, tossing halfway through to ensure even cooking, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until it's just short of al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain.
• In a large skillet over medium-low heat, toast the almonds, stirring frequently so they don't burn, 4 to 5 minutes. Set the almonds aside and wipe out the skillet.
• In the skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the anchovies, garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the anchovies have melted into the sauce and the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water along with the lemon juice and simmer until it emulsifies, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the pasta and toss to coat, adding more pasta water as needed. Stir in the roasted broccoli and gently toss and season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with the toasted almonds and serve with cheese, if you'd like.

FUSILLI WITH BROCCOLI AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Cut broccoli crowns from stems, leaving about 1 inch of stem at the base of each crown; set aside thick stems for another purpose.
• Salt boiling water generously and add broccoli. Boil 5 to 6 minutes, until tender enough to break apart with a fork.
• Using a skimmer, tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli crowns to a bowl of cold water (do not drain water from pot). Drain broccoli, then blot on paper towels. Chop fine.
• Bring water in pot back to a boil and add fusilli.
• While fusilli is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet and add garlic, anchovies and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring and mashing anchovies with the back of a wooden spoon, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in chopped broccoli.
• Add a ladle or two (about 1/2 cup) of the pasta water to the broccoli, season to taste with salt and pepper and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Broccoli should be very soft. Remove another ladle of pasta water and set aside.
• Drain pasta and toss at once with broccoli and remaining olive oil. Add water you set aside if you think it needs more moisture. Serve at once, sprinkled with cheese.

PASTA SHELLS WITH BROCCOLI & ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Cook the broccoli in a pan of boiling water for 3 mins, then drain, reserving the cooking water. Cook the pasta in the same water as the broccoli according to pack instructions.
• Heat the oil in a pan, then fry garlic until lightly golden. Remove garlic, then set aside. Add anchovies, chilli and half a cup of pasta cooking water to the pan. Cook for 2 mins, until the liquid has reduced by half and the anchovies have broken down. Stir in the broccoli and a squeeze of lemon juice, then cook for 1 min, until the broccoli has warmed through. Drain the pasta then toss everything together. Serve scattered with parmesan.