Pasta with Anchovies and Arugula

By bakers_delight85

Be sure to buy anchovies packed in olive oil, not cottonseed or soy oil, the ingredients should read "anchovies, olive oil, salt", nothing more.

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and slivered
• 8 anchovy fillets, or more to taste, with some of their oil
• 2 cups trimmed arugula, washed, dried, and chopped
• Salt
• 1 pound linguine or other long pasta
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. or more crushed red pepper flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Begin heating water for the pasta. Put 2 Tbsp. of the oil into a deep skillet, turn the heat to medium, and heat for a minute. Add the garlic and anchovies. When the garlic sizzles and the anchovies break up, turn the heat to the minimum.
Salt the boiling pasta water and cook the pasta until it is tender but not mushy. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid and drain. Add the pasta and the arugula to the skillet, along with enough of the reserved cooking water to make a sauce; turn the heat to medium and stir for a minute. Add salt and pepper to taste, plus a pinch or more of the red pepper flakes.
Turn into a bowl, toss with the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil, and serve.