After my simplest ever Salmon Dish, here comes my simplest ever Spaghetti Dish!! :D This is my 'go to' dish when I have nothing in my fridge to cook or just plain lazy to cook something more complicated. It makes for a fulfilling and wholesome meal.
This Spaghetti with Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil is super easy to whip up as the ingredients are made up of things that we usually have in our kitchen (like onions and dried chillies) or ingredients which we can stock in our pantry because of the long shelf life (like canned anchovy fillets and dried spaghetti).
What elevates this dish from a simple pasta to something more fancy is the use of one secret ingredient....anchovy fillets ;-) But, they don't come cheap...a 46g can costs RM10.59 while a 58g bottle comes in at RM11.44!
So, for this dish, all you'll need is:
1 can (46g) of anchovy fillets in olive oil A handful of dried spaghetti (enough for two) 1/2 a large onion 3 dried chillies
Soak the dried chillies in water until soften and slice thinly (or you can use those bottled chilli flakes as well). Peel and chop the onion finely.
Use any type of spaghetti you like and boil (in salted water) till al dente according to packet instructions (which was 8 minutes in this case). My handful of dried spaghetti was enough for two small eaters or one large one.
Pour half the olive oil from the can and sauté the dried chillies and onions in a non-stick pan till soft and translucent. Add half the anchovy fillets (one can has about 9 - 10 fillets which is just enough for two small servings of spaghetti). I cooked them in two batches, you can certainly do it in one if you like.
Mash the anchovy fillets with your spatula and add the cooked pasta immediately (with a little of the water used to cook the pasta). Stir-fry until well combined and add a sprinkle of dried parsley (fresh would be better, of course, but it's highly unlikely we'd have that in the fridge). No need to add any salt as the anchovy fillets bring saltiness and it acts as the sauce too.
Here's my simplest ever Spaghetti with Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil!
You can tweak it to your liking, more anchovies (or add a pinch of salt) if it's not salty enough for you or more dried chillies (perhaps even cili padi) if you like more heat. Or you can certainly make it more decadent by topping it with some nicely sautéed large prawns or grilled calamari....but that wouldn't be the simplest spaghetti dish, now would it? :D
This is a dish I turn to if the weather turns stormy (or hazy these days) making it too troublesome to go out to get dinner as the ingredients are readily available in my pantry. Keep some of these staples in your kitchen too and you'll forever have an easy pasta dish to whip up meal at any time of the day.....or a rainy day! ;)
Nice! I also use that bottle/can of anchovy fillet, mostly for salad dressings and kerabu. Yup, it very pricey but I still buy them. I must cook this simple spaghetti one day!
Hi 5 again! Yes, come to think of it, if you just mash it up with the olive oil, it does make a nice salad dressing as well. I must try that one day! ;)
More often than not, the simplest is the best! Not sure if we can get those anchovies here or not though...or maybe we have but I haven't been looking.
Oh, you bought both can and bottle expensive anchovies. I guess if we want a cheaper and more local taste spaghetti, we can replace the expensive anchovies with local canned sardines in olive oil or tuna in olive oil. Hahaha, I don't think Lazy Man will say that this is the simplest ever. My version of simplest ever spaghetti is just boil the spaghetti, toss them in olive oil and sprinkle with Italian herbs and eat. That's the simplest kosong spaghetti but of course yours taste much nicer for most people.
Hmmm, Lazy Man's pasta is not the simplest either with all those veggies. I don't think I will replace the anchovies with our local canned sardines coz those don't taste nice (maybe tuna is still ok).
Haha, unfortunately (or fortunately) onions and dried chilis are something that does NOT exist in my kitchen. But I agree, this is really simple and nice and a better option compared to going out and eating dust before you get to eat dinner..
Nice! I also use that bottle/can of anchovy fillet, mostly for salad dressings and kerabu. Yup, it very pricey but I still buy them. I must cook this simple spaghetti one day!
ReplyDeleteHi 5 again! Yes, come to think of it, if you just mash it up with the olive oil, it does make a nice salad dressing as well. I must try that one day! ;)
DeleteMore often than not, the simplest is the best! Not sure if we can get those anchovies here or not though...or maybe we have but I haven't been looking.
ReplyDeleteI'm an advocate too of simple is the best! :)
DeleteOh, you bought both can and bottle expensive anchovies. I guess if we want a cheaper and more local taste spaghetti, we can replace the expensive anchovies with local canned sardines in olive oil or tuna in olive oil. Hahaha, I don't think Lazy Man will say that this is the simplest ever. My version of simplest ever spaghetti is just boil the spaghetti, toss them in olive oil and sprinkle with Italian herbs and eat. That's the simplest kosong spaghetti but of course yours taste much nicer for most people.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Lazy Man's pasta is not the simplest either with all those veggies. I don't think I will replace the anchovies with our local canned sardines coz those don't taste nice (maybe tuna is still ok).
Deleteon the right day, at the right time, a spaghetti dish like this would be all i'd need! especially since you specified it'd be al dente, heheh :D
ReplyDeleteSometimes, after all our eating binges of robust tasting food, a simple dish like this is all I crave for! ;D
DeleteOoh yes, anchovies have so much flavour you don't need much else to make a great pasta dish. Thanks for sharing your recipe. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome....but this is such a simple dish, I don't even think I can call it a recipe! :D
DeleteI should have bought some of these at Pok brothers earlier this week, looks good, the anchovies I mean.
ReplyDeleteWell, you know where you can get some if you want.
DeleteI never buy this canned anchovies, I believe it can provide a great umami flavor to the pasta :)
ReplyDeleteIt does bring the saltish umami flavour to the pasta without having to add salt :)
DeleteHaha, unfortunately (or fortunately) onions and dried chilis are something that does NOT exist in my kitchen. But I agree, this is really simple and nice and a better option compared to going out and eating dust before you get to eat dinner..
ReplyDeleteI remember you not liking raw onions but these are cooked (like the ones in your burger), so even the Lazy Man can attempt to cook this simple dish.
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