Delicious Orecchiette with Broccoli & Anchovies

1. Cook the Orecchiette

• Boil Water: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil.
• Cook the Pasta: Add 200g of orecchiette to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions, usually around 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

2. Prepare the Anchovy Sauce

• Heat the Oils: In a large frying pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of oil reserved from the anchovies over medium heat.
• Add Garlic and Chili: Once the oil is hot, add 4 fat garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and 1 red chili, thinly sliced. Sizzle for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the garlic is just starting to turn golden.

3. Incorporate Anchovies and Lemon

• Add Anchovies: Stir in 6 chopped anchovy fillets and the juice of ½ a lemon. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring until the anchovies melt into the sauce and create a flavorful base.

4. Prepare the Crunchy Breadcrumbs

• Crisp the Breadcrumbs: In another frying pan, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 50g of fresh breadcrumbs, and the zest of 1 lemon. Stir to combine and cook over medium heat until the breadcrumbs are golden and crispy, about 3-5 minutes. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

5. Cook the Broccoli

• Add Broccoli to Pasta: When the orecchiette has 4-5 minutes left to cook, add 200g of purple sprouting broccoli to the pot with the pasta. Cook until the broccoli is tender and bright green.

6. Combine Pasta and Sauce

• Drain the Pasta: Once the pasta and broccoli are cooked, reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the rest.
• Mix Together: Add the drained orecchiette and broccoli to the frying pan with the garlic and anchovy sauce. Stir everything together over low heat for another 2 minutes. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.

7. Serve

• Season and Plate: Season the pasta to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the orecchiette in pasta bowls, generously topping each serving with the crispy lemony breadcrumbs.

Enjoy your delicious and flavorful Orecchiette with Broccoli & Anchovies!