Pasta... and a Couple of Treasures from the Sea
September 28th 2009 02:28
Pasta is a common word over here. It features so often that each time Poppy asks me what's for dinner (we chat online almost everyday), it happens to be pasta! She thinks I never have anything except pasta – thank goodness for this blog!
I love pasta dishes but generally not ones with cream or heavy sauces. Pasta in tomato sauce is always yummy but there are some days that a nice *clean* dish is what the palate is after.
Nonna M made this sometime back. Her Sicilian recipe only calls for snapper and (of course) chillies, and was simply delicious. My taste-buds remember the sweet snapper broth with the egg-y pasta, and I decided to replicate it…my way, naturally…
This recipe is delightfully light and delicious. The *sweetness* from the fish and prawns, infuses beautifully with the sautéed chillies, garlic, shallot and tomato. With a little simmer in the vegetable stock, the broth is ready and the pasta greedily slurps it up in no time – I don’t blame it…
Enjoy my Pasta in a Fish and Prawns Broth. Please don’t tell Nonna M I deviated from the norm. I wouldn't want to cross paths with her Sicilian *temper*...
What you need:
500-750g Fish fillets, cut into large chunks – snapper is best but monk, ling, cod or barramundi works well too
1 tomato, diced
2 small red chillies, sliced thinly
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 French shallot, sliced thinly
1/2 cup of vegetable stock
Olive oil
Salt to taste if necessary
Pasta – any kind you like. I used 'bucatini,' sometimes 'angel hair' or 'spaghettini'.
flat-leaf parsley, basil or coriander, to garnish
What to do:
1…Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté chillies, garlic and shallot till fragrant, then add tomato. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
2…Add the fish. Lightly cook each side for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Add vegetable stock, bring to a light boil. Turn down heat, cover and *allow to simmer (very) gently for 8-10 minutes per inch of thickness. Turn off heat and leave covered.
3…*While waiting, cook the pasta following packet instructions. Drain.
4…Turn heat back on the saucepan of fish and broth, add the prawns, and cook till done – fish should be opaque inside and out, and prawns an orangy-red.
5…Toss pasta into the fish and prawns broth. Coat well.
6…First, place pasta in the bowls, then the fish and prawns. Pour some broth over. Garnish with your preferred herb. Serve immediately. Buon Appetito!
Serves: 2
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