Name: Spaghettini with smoked eel, garlic, chilli and pangrattato
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 400 gm dried spaghettini (see note); 50 ml extra-virgin olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1 long red chilli, seeds removed, thinly sliced widthways; 200 gm smoked eel, skin removed, flesh broken into large pieces (see note); To serve: finely chopped chives; Pangrattato; 100 ml olive oil; 3 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 100 gm panko breadcrumbs (see note)

Spaghettini with smoked eel, garlic, chilli and pangrattato

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for spaghettini with smoked eel, garlic, chilli and pangrattato by Nicky Riemer from Melbourne Wine Room.

Serves 4

Prep

15M

Cook

15M

Total

30M

“I have a profound love of smoked eel, particularly from the Yarra Valley – the succulent smoky flesh goes perfectly with spaghettini finished with pangrattato (mine’s a pan-fried mix of Japanese white breadcrumbs with anchovy and garlic). I first experienced the joy of crunchy pangrattato with spaghettini and sardines in Syracusa in Sicily and built on this idea to refine this dish.”

Ingredients

400 gm dried spaghettini (see note)

50 ml extra-virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 long red chilli, seeds removed, thinly sliced widthways

200 gm smoked eel, skin removed, flesh broken into large pieces (see note)

To serve: finely chopped chives

Pangrattato

100 ml olive oil

3 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

100 gm panko breadcrumbs (see note)

Method

Main

1.For pangrattato, heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until hot, but not smoking. Add anchovy and garlic, stir for a few seconds, then add breadcrumbs and stir frequently over medium heat until breadcrumbs are golden (4-5 minutes). Drain on absorbent paper and cool to room temperature.

2.Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water until al dente (5-7 minutes), drain, reserving 125ml cooking water, and return to pan to keep warm.

3.Meanwhile, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until just hot, add garlic and chilli and stir occasionally until tender but not coloured (2-3 minutes). Add eel, toss until warmed through (1-2 minutes), then add half the pangrattato and toss to combine. Season to taste, then toss through pasta, adding some reserved cooking water if necessary to moisten, and serve immediately scattered with remaining pangrattato and chives.

Note Nicky Riemer uses the Rustichella brand of pasta available from Enoteca Sileno and select Italian delicatessens. Smoked eel is available from select fishmongers. Panko breadcrumbs are available from Japanese grocers. If unavailable, substitute dried breadcrumbs.
Drink Suggestion: Good Italian lager such as Peroni Gran Riserva Doppio Malto. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes