There are several types of pasta sauce based on walnuts in northern Italy, including the one on page 550; this is among my favorites. It also happens to be the easiest. If you like, you could throw in a tablespoon of capers, too.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

　　Salt to taste

　　2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

　　1 tablespoon minced garlic

　　1/4 pound anchovy fillets, chopped, with their oil

　　1 pound linguine

　　Minced fresh parsley leaves for garnish

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the walnuts on an ungreased baking sheet and toast in the oven until fragrant, shaking occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook, stirring, until the garlic is lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Add the anchovies, along with their oil, and cook for 1 minute, then turn off the heat.

　　

Step 3

Cook the pasta in the boiling water until it is tender but not mushy; drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the water. Dilute the anchovy sauce with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water. Toss the pasta, sauce, and walnuts together, garnish with the parsley, and serve.

　　

Pasta with Walnuts and Bread Crumbs

Step 4

No anchovies: In step 2, put 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and 1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh (page 580). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is golden brown and fragrant, then stir in the walnuts. Meanwhile, cook and drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Toss the pasta with the walnut mixture, along with as much of the cooking liquid as is necessary to moisten the dish (it should not be wet). Garnish and serve.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.