Aglio e Olio with Celery Tops, Fennel & Pine Nuts
Rachael Ray

Aglio e Olio with Celery Tops, Fennel & Pine Nuts

"Garlic-and-oil pasta has a key ingredient, and it's not the garlic or the oil—it's anchovies. Melting them into the oil develops their flavor, which is closer to toasted salty nuts than fish." —Rach

Ingredients

  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 10 to 12 anchovy filets
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp. Calabrian chile paste, 1 tbsp. finely chopped dried pepperoncini (red chili peppers), or 1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
  • 1 scant tsp. (about 1/3 palmful) fennel pollen or fennel seeds
  • ½ cup dry (white) vermouth
  • Salt
  • 1 lb. spaghetti or linguini
  • 1 cup (packed) mixed fresh flat-leaf parsley and celery leaves, finely chopped
  • Lemon wedges, for garnish

Directions

  • Step 1 Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta.
  • Step 2 In small skillet or on a small tray in the toaster oven, toast the pine nuts, stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  • Step 3 In a large deep skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the anchovies and cook, stirring and breaking up with a spoon, until they melt into the oil, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic, chile paste, and fennel pollen. Cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Stir in the vermouth and reduce heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently while the pasta cooks.
  • Step 4 Salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook 1 minute less than package directions. Reserve 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  • Step 5 Using tongs, toss the pasta in the sauce, adding cooking water as needed to coat the pasta with the sauce, about 2 minutes. Mix in the parsley and celery leaves. Serve in shallow bowls topped with the pine nuts. Garnish with the lemon wedges.
Tags:Rachael Ray Magazine, undoRS