Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil, Chili, and Toasted Bread Crumbs

This variation on the Italian classic spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino adds toasted bread crumbs for a crisp finish. Using stale bread crumbs as a pasta topping is a traditional, economical alternative to cheese in parts of southern Italy. This version includes both bread crumbs and freshly grated Parmesan.

Ingredients

• 500 g spaghetti
• 200 ml good-quality olive oil
• 50 g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 3 chilies, seeded and finely chopped
• 8 young garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 60 g Parmesan, freshly grated, plus more for serving if desired
• 50 g stale, hardened white bread, crushed into crumbs
• 3–4 tablespoons olive oil, for toasting the bread crumbs
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain it briefly, leaving the pasta slightly wet, then return it to the pot.
2. Break or crush the hardened white bread into coarse crumbs. Heat 3–4 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Toast the crumbs for about 5 minutes, stirring as needed, until golden. Set aside.
3. Wash and dry the parsley, then chop it finely. Seed and finely chop the chilies. Finely chop the garlic.
4. Warm the remaining olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
5. Add the garlic and cook until golden, watching carefully so it does not become dark or bitter.
6. Stir in the chilies and parsley, then remove the saucepan from the heat. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
7. Add the flavored oil and grated Parmesan to the spaghetti. Toss thoroughly. Stir in the optional lemon juice if desired.
8. Divide among plates and finish with the toasted bread crumbs. Serve with additional grated Parmesan if desired.

Helpful Notes

• Adjust the quantity of garlic and chili to suit your taste.
• Keep the garlic below dark brown; overcooked garlic can taste bitter.
• Coarse, irregular bread crumbs provide more texture than very fine crumbs.
• The toasted crumbs also work well as a topping for other simple pasta dishes.