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Pasta with Tapenade and Mackerel

17/11/2023

Here is a recipe that blends Mediterranean flavors such as tapenade, typical of Provençal cuisine, with an Italian touch given by the pasta and mackerel, a blue fish highly appreciated in our cuisine.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (such as spaghetti or linguine)
  • 200 g of mackerel in oil
  • 100 g of tapenade (you can find it ready-made or make it at home with black olives, anchovies, capers, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Chopped parsley (to taste)
  • Chili pepper (optional, if you like a bit of spice)
  • Salt

Preparation

  1. Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil to cook the pasta.

  2. In the meantime, if you opt to make it at home, prepare the tapenade by blending the pitted olives, washed and deboned anchovies, capers, garlic, and a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil until a smooth paste is obtained.

  3. Drain the mackerel from the preservation oil and coarsely break it with a fork.

  4. In a wide pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic to flavor the oil. If you want a spicy touch, you can add chili pepper to taste.

  5. Remove the garlic as soon as it turns golden and add the mackerel to the pan. Let it season for a few minutes over medium heat.

  6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente, then drain it and transfer it into the pan with the mackerel.

  7. Add the tapenade to the pasta and mix thoroughly over the heat for a minute, so that all the flavors meld together.

  8. Plate the pasta and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

  9. Serve immediately, pairing the dish, if you wish, with a glass of fresh and aromatic white wine that matches well with the strong flavor of the mackerel.

Curiosity

The tapenade, which in this recipe enriches the pasta, is typically Provençal but you will find it adapted in many Italian variants, especially in those areas where olives are the stars of the local cuisine. Moreover, mackerel is an economical and healthy fish, rich in Omega-3, that deserves greater consideration in our Mediterranean diet.