Burnt Wheat Orecchiette with Whitefish and Asparagus

17/11/2023

Burnt wheat orecchiette are a rustic and flavorful variant of the classic pasta from Puglia. Burnt wheat used to be the toasted remains found in fields after the wheat harvest and stubble burning; today, it’s highly valued for its unique taste. Whitefish, a freshwater fish, and green asparagus make an elegant and spring-like combination.

Ingredients

300 g of burnt wheat orecchiette
200 g of whitefish (you can ask your fishmonger to prepare it for cooking)
300 g of green asparagus
2 cloves of garlic
1 chili pepper (optional)
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Grated lemon zest (for garnish)
Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Preparation

Clean the asparagus by removing the hard part of the stem. Cut the tips and slice the rest of the stems into rounds.
In a wide pan, sauté the garlic (which you can remove at the end of cooking) and the chili pepper in extra virgin olive oil. Add the asparagus and sauté over medium heat.
Meanwhile, cook the burnt wheat orecchiette in plenty of salted water following the cooking times indicated on the package to achieve an al dente texture.
Fillet the whitefish and cut the fillets into small pieces. Add the pieces of whitefish to the pan with the asparagus and cook for a few minutes, until the fish is cooked through and slightly golden. Season with salt and pepper.
Drain the orecchiette and pour them into the pan with the whitefish and asparagus condiment. Toss together for a minute to blend the flavors well.
Serve immediately, garnishing with grated lemon zest and chopped fresh parsley.

If you can’t find whitefish, you can substitute it with another type of freshwater fish or even with a variety of sea fish if you prefer.

Curiosity

Burnt wheat is a Puglian tradition dating back to the times when leftovers from the harvest, often burnt and thus “scorched,” were collected to make flour. Although it was considered poor people’s food, today it is highly appreciated for its smoky flavor and is used in various gourmet recipes.