Il Cucinologo
EN

Pasta with Tapenade and Mackerel

17/11/2023

Here is a recipe that blends Mediterranean flavors like tapenade, typical of Provençal cuisine, with an Italian touch given by the pasta and mackerel, a blue fish highly appreciated in our local 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 heat)
  • Salt

Preparation

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

  2. Meanwhile, prepare the tapenade, if you choose to make it at home, by blending pitted olives, rinsed and deboned anchovies, capers, garlic, and a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil until you obtain a smooth paste.

  3. Drain the mackerel from its preserving oil and roughly flake it with a fork.

  4. In a large 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 flavor for a few minutes over medium heat.

  6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until it reaches al dente, then drain and transfer it to 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 blend together.

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

  9. Serve immediately, pairing the dish, if you like, with a glass of fresh, aromatic white wine that complements the bold flavor of the mackerel.

Curiosities

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