Gemelli with Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies: 2000s Recipes + Menus : gourmet.com

2000s Recipes + Menus

Serves4 to 6

January 2007

Corkscrew pasta gets a wake-up call with the unexpected übercrunch of toasted panko and a salty jolt from anchovies.

1 lb gemelli or other corkscrew pasta
1 (1-lb) bunch broccoli rabe, coarse stems discarded and remainder cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1 cup panko (Japanese crisp bread crumbs)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 (2-oz) can flat anchovy fillets, drained
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes, or to taste

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta in a 7- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water (see Tips) 6 minutes, then stir in broccoli rabe and boil until pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more.
While pasta is cooking, toss panko with 1 tablespoon oil in a shallow baking pan until coated and bake, stirring once or twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Season crumbs with salt.
While broccoli rabe (with pasta) is cooking, cook garlic, anchovies, and red-pepper flakes in remaining 7 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring and mashing anchovies into oil with a wooden spoon, until garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Drain pasta and broccoli rabe in a colander, then add to anchovy mixture in skillet, tossing to combine.
Serve pasta sprinkled with some toasted panko and pass remainder.