BUCATINI WITH FENNEL AND ANCHOVIES

Bucatini With Fennel and Anchovies image

The essence of weeknight pantry cooking is in this tin of anchovies, handful of bread crumbs and pound of pasta. Pick up some fennel on the way home and you are set to ramp up cacio e pepe for bucatini.

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories dinner, lunch, quick, pastas, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 2-ounce tin flat anchovies in olive oil
Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 tablespoon minced tarragon leaves
1 fairly large fennel bulb, cored and sliced paper-thin (about 3 cups)
1 medium onion, sliced paper thin
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Salt and ground black pepper
1 pound bucatini
Grated pecorino for serving

Steps:

Place anchovies and their oil in a small bowl, add the lemon juice and mix together to break up anchovies. Set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a 12- to 14-inch skillet, add bread crumbs and cook on medium, stirring, until they are toasted. Fold in parsley and tarragon, remove from skillet and set aside. Wipe out skillet and add remaining oil. Heat on medium-low, add fennel, onion and garlic and cook until they become soft and translucent and show a hint of color. Lightly season with salt and liberally with pepper. Stir in anchovy mixture and set aside. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
Cook bucatini until not quite al dente. Remove 2 cups of the pasta water and continue cooking pasta until just done. Drain and add to the skillet with the fennel mixture along with about a cup of the pasta water. Scatter in the lemon zest. Heat on low. Use tongs to toss pasta thoroughly with the fennel mixture. There should be enough liquid to moisten the pasta without making it soupy, so add more pasta water if needed. Correct seasoning with salt and pepper. Don't be shy with the pepper. Divide the pasta among 4 to 6 warm plates, top each with some of the bread crumbs and serve with cheese on the side.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 436, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 68 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 432 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams