Linguine with Chickpeas Recipe on Food52 (2024)

A humble can of chickpeas dresses up as the tiniest, tenderest co*ckles and we can't tell who is who anymore.

Featured In: Meet the Chickpeas Who Dream of Being Clams —Emma Laperruque

Directions

1. Fill a 3-quart pot with 7 cups water. (If this doesn’t seem like enough for the pasta, it is. We want the water extra starchy for later.) Add 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt. Set over medium-high heat.
2. While that heats up, fry the breadcrumbs. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a medium skillet. Set over medium heat. When the oil is shimmery, add the anchovies and stir to break up. Add the breadcrumbs and stir again. Slightly lower the heat. Toast the breadcrumbs—stirring occasionally—until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes. Shower with lemon zest. Season with salt to taste.
3. Make the chickpea sauce. The water should come to a boil during this stage—start cooking the pasta then! Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to a wide, high-sided skillet and set over medium heat. When the oil is shimmery, add the garlic and chili flakes. Stir-fry until fragrant and toasty. Add the chickpeas. Whatever water was clinging to them will help you use a spoon or spatula to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add the white wine and simmer for a couple minutes until the alcohol cooks off and begins to reduce. Add the butter and swirl to emulsify.
4. When the pasta is *just* al dente—7 to 8 minutes—use tongs to transfer it to the pan with the chickpeas and sauce. Raise the heat to medium-low. Toss and add enough pasta water to create a sauce for the noodles to splash around in. Continue to cook for a minute or so until the sauce slightly thickens. Add the parsley, half the breadcrumbs, and toss.
5. Divide between serving bowls, then top with the remaining breadcrumbs—plus crushed red pepper, parsley, and parmesan.

Recipe by: Emma Laperruque