Italian Pasta Recipes - Pasta with Anchovy Butter (Pasta con Burro di Acciughe) Recipe

Ingredients                     

• 225 g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

• 1.5 ml/1/4 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• 5 ml/1 tsp olive oil

• Cold water

• 6 canned anchovy fillets, rinsed and dried

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup unsalted (sweet) butter

• 5 ml/1 tsp lemon juice

• 15 ml/1 tbsp capers, chopped

• 15 ml/1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

• Freshly ground black pepper

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Method:

1. Sift the flour and salt in a bowl and blend in the eggs and olive oil. Mix with the hands adding a little water as necessary to form a firm dough.

2. Using the palm of the hand knead the dough firmly until smooth, dusting with a little flour to prevent sticking.

3. Roll and re-roll out the dough thinly and cut into strips to make noodles. Hang up to dry or place on a clean cloth over the back of a chair for 15 minutes.

4. Cook in boiling, salted water for 3-4 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the saucepan.

5. Meanwhile, mash the anchovy fillets to a paste and put into a saucepan with 15 g/1 tbsp of the butter.

6. Stir in the lemon juice and the capers. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Lower the heat and whisk in the remaining butter, a little at a time. Do not allow the sauce to boil.

7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and mix in the parsley. Season well with pepper, spoon over the pasta, toss and serve straight away.