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Lemon Pasta with Silver Scabbardfish

Lemon Pasta with Silver Scabbardfish

Enjoy a fresh take on pasta with this paccheri dish featuring locally caught silver scabbardfish (ċinturin), fragrant garlic, a hint of chilli and zesty lemon. Finished with butter, fresh basil and Parmesan, it’s a delicious Mediterranean-inspired meal that brings local fish to the table in a simple yet flavourful way.
  • 150 g paccheri pasta
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced or chopped
  • A small piece of fresh chili pepper, finely chopped
  • A few fresh basil leaves
  • 2 silver scabbardfish (ċinturin), filleted and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • 1½ tbsp butter
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper
  • Reserved pasta water, as needed
  • Calories: ~680 kcal
  • Protein: ~38g
  • Carbohydrates: ~73g
  • Sugars: ~4g
  • Fat: ~26g
  • Fibre: ~4g

Method

step 01

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook the paccheri until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½–1 cup of the pasta water.

step 02

While the pasta is cooking, heat a generous drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and gently cook until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.

step 03

Add the chopped, filleted silver scabbardfish to the pan and cook thoroughly until the fish is opaque and cooked through.

step 04

Add the chopped chili, lemon zest and fresh basil leaves. Gently cook for another 1–2 minutes, allowing the flavours to infuse into the fish and olive oil.

step 05

Add the al dente paccheri directly to the pan and toss everything together. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water and allow the pasta to absorb the flavours for a couple of minutes.

step 06

Lower the heat and add the lemon juice and butter. Toss the pasta well until the butter melts and coats the pasta.

step 07

Gradually add a generous amount of grated Parmesan while continuously tossing the pasta. Add a little more pasta water if needed until you achieve a smooth, glossy and creamy sauce.

step 08

Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, finished with a little extra lemon zest, fresh basil and Parmesan.

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