Spaghetti with Spicy Pork and Anchovy Ragù
You’ve got anchovy fillets waiting patiently in your refrigerator door? Let them wait no longer, they’re ready for the spotlight! Use a generous quantity to flavour ground pork; with their salty, concentrated taste, you’ll never know it was fish in the end. Also, use plenty of garlic and an entire can of tomato paste. Caramelize […]
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) medium-lean ground pork
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 8 anchovy fillets, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 can (5 ½ oz/156 ml) tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) red wine
- 1 cup (250 ml) 15% cooking cream or 35% cream
- 3/4 cup (55 g) fresh Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1 lb (450 g) spaghetti
Instructions
- In a pot over medium-high heat, cook the pork in the oil, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for 8 minutes or until nicely browned. Add the anchovies, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Season with salt.
- Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until nicely caramelized, stirring often. Deglaze with the wine. Add the cream and Parmesan. Season generously with pepper and mix well. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente. Set aside 1 cup (250 ml) of the cooking water. Drain the pasta.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and mix well. Add the reserved pasta cooking water to thin out the sauce as needed. Adjust the seasoning.
- Serve the pasta in shallow bowls. Sprinkle with more Parmesan. Serve immediately.
You’ve got anchovy fillets waiting patiently in your refrigerator door? Let them wait no longer, they’re ready for the spotlight! Use a generous quantity to flavour ground pork; with their salty, concentrated taste, you’ll never know it was fish in the end. Also, use plenty of garlic and an entire can of tomato paste. Caramelize the mixture before adding cream and Parmesan. You’ll get a pasta dish with deep, enveloping flavours that are also wonderfully comforting.