Pasta with Anchovies and Breadcrumbs
Pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs is a rustic Italian main course where tinned anchovies melt into a garlicky tomato and olive oil sauce, finished with golden toasted breadcrumbs and fresh herbs. The Thermomix TM7 grates, chops, heats and mixes every element, delivering a deeply savoury weeknight dinner with minimal effort and only one bowl to wash.
About this recipe
Pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs in the Thermomix TM7 is a clever Italian recipe that turns humble pantry staples into a quick weeknight dinner with real depth of flavour. Tinned anchovies dissolve into warm olive oil with garlic and tomato purée, creating a silky, deeply savoury sauce that clings to every strand of dried spaghetti, while golden toasted breadcrumbs add a satisfying crunch on top. This is exactly the kind of preparation where an all-in-one kitchen machine shines: the TM7 grates the bread into even crumbs, chops the garlic and fresh herbs in seconds, and heats the sauce gently so the anchovies melt without catching. It is ideal for busy evenings when you want maximum flavour from inexpensive ingredients, and the recipes on Cookidoo guide you through each step so even nervous cooks can achieve a restaurant-style result.
Preparation tips
- Toast the breadcrumbs separately until deep golden before topping the pasta, as this keeps them crunchy rather than soggy under the anchovy sauce. Stir them through the spaghetti at the table so everyone gets the crisp texture.
- Reserve a ladle of the spaghetti cooking water before draining. The starchy water helps the tomato purée and olive oil sauce loosen and coat the pasta evenly, giving a glossy finish without extra fat.
- Rinse the tinned anchovies briefly if you prefer a milder, less salty sauce, and choose good-quality anchovies in olive oil. Fresh parsley or basil stirred in at the end brightens the whole dish.
Recipe variations
- Vegetarian version: replace the tinned anchovies with capers and a teaspoon of miso paste for a similar salty umami depth. The breadcrumbs, garlic and tomato purée sauce work beautifully with this plant-based twist on the spaghetti.
- Festive version: add chilli flakes, lemon zest and toasted pine nuts along with the breadcrumbs for a Christmas-style evening meal. A handful of grated Parmesan over the anchovy spaghetti makes it extra indulgent for guests.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Grate stale bread into even, fine breadcrumbs in seconds with the TM7, ready for toasting to a golden crunch. [Multi-Function]
- The Thermomix chops the garlic cloves and fresh herbs uniformly small, so no bitter large bits remain in the sauce. [Multi-Function]
- Gentle heating melts the tinned anchovies into the olive oil and tomato purée without burning, creating a silky sauce. [Multi-Function]
- Weigh the dried spaghetti and water directly in the mixing bowl using the built-in scale, avoiding extra measuring cups. [Built-in Scale]
- The TM7 mixes the sauce continuously while it heats, leaving your hands-free to cook the spaghetti al dente. [Hands-Free]
Ingredients
- fresh herbs
- garlic cloves
- olive oil
- breadcrumbs
- tomato purée
- water
- tinned anchovies
- dried spaghetti