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Ricette di Sicilia

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane


Cavatelli with tuna bottarga and black pepper on Sicilian ceramic plate

Cavatelli with Tuna Bottarga: A Taste of the Siracusan Sea

A quick yet luxurious Sicilian pasta dish from Siracusa, combining silky cavatelli with fragrant tuna bottarga, garlic and olive oil.

⏱️
Prep Time
10 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
10 minutes
👥
Serve
Serves 4
📊
Difficulty
Easy
💰 Medium
🗓️ Summer
4.8/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 320 g fresh cavatelli
  • 25 g grated tuna bottarga
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 shallot
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
480 kcal
Protein
16 g
Fat
20 g
Carbohydrates
58 g
Fiber
4 g
Sugar
3 g
Sodium
210 mg

If you love bold coastal flavours, these Siracusan cavatelli with tuna bottarga will feel like a warm breeze straight from the Mediterranean.
It’s a beautifully simple dish - just fresh pasta, good olive oil, aromatic garlic and shallot, and that unmistakable savoury intensity of bottarga.

Quick enough for a weeknight supper yet elegant enough for guests, this is the sort of pasta that turns a summer evening into a small celebration.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Press the garlic cloves using a garlic press and finely slice the shallot.

  2. 2

    Warm a generous drizzle of olive oil in a wide frying pan, then gently sauté the garlic and shallot until soft and fragrant, taking care not to brown them.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, cook the cavatelli in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve a ladleful of cooking water before draining.

  4. 4

    Tip the pasta into the pan and add a splash of cooking water to help the sauce emulsify.

  5. 5

    Add the grated tuna bottarga and plenty of black pepper, tossing everything together over a low heat so the flavours bind without overcooking the bottarga.

  6. 6

    Serve piping hot with an extra drizzle of olive oil and, if you wish, a final dusting of bottarga.

💡 Tips and Variations

Add a little grated lemon zest or chopped fresh parsley for brightness.
Prefer a stronger punch? Use thin slices of bottarga instead of grated.

📦 Storage

  • Best enjoyed freshly prepared.
  • Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 day.
  • Reheat gently in a frying pan with a splash of water and a little oil.
  • Not suitable for freezing, as bottarga loses its delicate texture and aroma.

🍷 Pairing

Pair this dish with a chilled glass of Contea di Sclafani Ansonica or Inzolia.
Their crisp, aromatic profile enhances the sea-scented notes of the bottarga beautifully.

With just a handful of ingredients and a touch of Sicilian magic, you've created a dish that tastes as vibrant as the Siracusan coastline.
Simple, sophisticated, unmistakably Mediterranean - these cavatelli with bottarga are bound to become a favourite.

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