Sicilian-style Hake Fillets

17/11/2023

Sicilian-style hake fillets are a dish that embodies the colours and flavors of the Mediterranean, pairing the delicate taste of hake with typical ingredients of Sicilian cuisine. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

4 hake fillets
200 g of cherry tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
50 g of pitted black olives
2 tablespoons of salted capers (rinsed and desalted)
A handful of pine nuts
Dry oregano to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lemon (and grated zest, if liked)
A bunch of fresh parsley, chopped

Preparation

Start by heating a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a large pan. Add the garlic cloves, let them brown, and then remove them to flavor the oil.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half or into quarters and sauté them in the pan with the flavored garlic until they start to soften.
Add the halved black olives, capers, and pine nuts. Cook for a few minutes over moderate heat to mix the flavors. If necessary, add a pinch of salt (moderately because of the saltiness of the capers) and pepper.
In the meantime, season the hake fillets with a pinch of salt, pepper, and some lemon juice. Then gently lay them in the pan with the seasoning. Cook them for about 3-4 minutes per side or until properly cooked. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
At the end of cooking, sprinkle with dry oregano and garnish with grated lemon zest and chopped fresh parsley.

Serve the hake fillets hot, perhaps accompanied by a fresh seasonal salad or baked potatoes to create a complete meal.

For an even more aromatic and Sicilian touch, you can also add a little local white wine during cooking, which evaporates to enhance the flavors of the various ingredients.

Curiosity

Hake is a fish highly appreciated in Mediterranean cuisine for its white and delicate flesh, often used in simple preparations where the taste of the sea can be best expressed. In this “Sicilian-style” version, the classic flavors of the island are highlighted, with the addition of capers and olives that provide vibrancy and character to the dish.