Spaghetti with Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and Anchovy Crumble
A unique pasta dish with crispy Brussels sprouts and a savory anchovy breadcrumb crumble, all quickly cooked in the air fryer.
Steps
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
- 2
In a bowl, toss Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minutes until golden and crispy.
- 3
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving some pasta water.
- 4
In a small skillet, heat remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and anchovies, cook for 2 minutes, mashing anchovies until dissolved. Stir in breadcrumbs and Parmesan, cook until crumble is golden.
- 5
In a large serving platter, combine spaghetti with roasted Brussels sprouts and anchovy crumble. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to bind. Serve hot.
Shopping list
spaghetti, Brussels sprouts, anchovy fillets, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper
Recipe story
Anchovies were a prized ingredient in Renaissance Venetian cuisine, preserved in brine to enrich merchants' pasta. Brussels sprouts, originating from 16th-century Flanders, were once a luxury on Belgian noble tables. This recipe merges these traditions in a modern way, using the air fryer to quickly roast the sprouts and create a crispy crumble.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Garlic
Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.
Olive oil
Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.
Cloves
Cloves, the dried buds of the exotic Syzygium aromaticum tree, were one of the most prized spices of the ancient world, often called 'aromatic gold'. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the clove trade, bringing them from the Maluku Islands, the only place they grew, and selling them at exorbitant prices in Europe.
You may also like
Air Fryer Tuna Steak – Quick and Easy Recipe in 12 Minutes
Fish
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp
Fish
Salmon stuffed with ricotta and harissa in Air Fryer
Fish
Air Fryer Tuna Melt – Crispy Tuna and Cheese Sandwich in 15 Minutes
Fish
Air Fryer Fresh Cod Fillet - Quick & Easy 15-Min Recipe
Fish