Orecchiette with Toasted Bread Crumbs
Elevate your weeknight pasta game with this irresistible recipe for Orecchiette with Toasted Bread Crumbs. Featuring tender, bowl-shaped orecchiette pasta tossed in a fragrant garlic-chili oil and topped with golden, crispy bread crumbs, this dish is a perfect marriage of texture and flavor. Fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese add brightness and richness, while a touch of pasta water creates a silky, light sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, this simple yet elegant recipe is a celebration of wholesome ingredients and classic Italian techniques—ideal for an effortless dinner that's big on taste.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 400 g Orecchiette pasta
- 100 g Bread crumbs (preferably homemade or Panko)
- 60 ml Extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 1 tsp Red chili flakes
- 15 g Fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 20 g Unsalted butter
- 1 to taste Salt
- 1 to taste Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bread crumbs and toast them, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crispy, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the bread crumbs from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil (30 ml) and the butter. Melt over medium heat, then add the garlic cloves, minced, and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Stir in the red chili flakes and cook for 30 seconds to bloom their flavor.
Return the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it in the garlic-chili oil. Add a few splashes of the reserved pasta cooking water to create a light sauce, if needed.
Fold in the toasted bread crumbs, finely chopped parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Divide the pasta among serving plates, garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
679 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 26.1 g | 33% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.4 g | 37% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 23 mg | 8% | |
| Sodium | 889 mg | 39% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 92.2 g | 34% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.0 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 2.8 g | ||
| Protein | 20.5 g | 41% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 239 mg | 18% | |
| Iron | 4.3 mg | 24% | |
| Potassium | 197 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
