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Pasta with Tuna Bottarga — A Sicilian Seafood Delight

Pasta with Tuna Bottarga — A Sicilian Seafood Delight

Explore the rich, authentic flavours of Sicily with this simple yet exquisite pasta dish, featuring the intense taste of tuna bottarga.

⏱️
Prep Time
about 10 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
around 10 minutes
👥
Serve
Serves 4
📊
Difficulty
easy
💰 moderate
🗓️ summer
4.9/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 500g pasta of your choice
  • 100g tuna bottarga
  • 3 cloves of Nubia red garlic
  • 2 lemons
  • 80g butter
  • a small handful of parsley
  • a few fresh basil leaves

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
540 kcal
Protein
20 g
Fat
19 g
Carbohydrates
70 g
Fiber
3 g
Sodium
190 mg

Pasta with tuna bottarga is a classic Sicilian first course, showcasing the distinctive, refined flavour of bottarga — the dried roe of tuna. This quick and fragrant dish combines zesty lemon with melted butter and the briny sharpness of grated bottarga, making it a perfect light lunch that captures the essence of the Mediterranean summer.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Gently melt the butter in a saucepan over a low heat, then add the juice of the squeezed lemons, crushed garlic, chopped parsley, basil leaves, and half a ladle of warm water.

  2. 2

    Let the flavours infuse for about two minutes, being careful not to let the garlic burn.

  3. 3

    Grate the bottarga finely and stir it into the sauce once the heat is turned off.

  4. 4

    Cook the pasta until just al dente in plenty of salted boiling water, drain it, and then add it to the pan with the sauce.

  5. 5

    Toss the pasta over a high heat for a couple of minutes, mixing well to coat each strand.

  6. 6

    Let it rest for a moment before serving, garnishing with a sprinkle of grated bottarga and fresh basil.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a lighter take, swap the butter for extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of freshly grated lemon zest to brighten up the dish even more.

📦 Storage

  • This pasta is best enjoyed straight away.
  • If needed, you can keep leftovers in the fridge for a few hours and gently reheat over a low heat with a drizzle of olive oil.

🍷 Pairing

Serve alongside a glass of Delia Nivolelli Grecanico — a fresh, aromatic Sicilian white wine that beautifully complements the citrus notes and the umami depth of bottarga.

This pasta with tuna bottarga is a wonderful celebration of Sicilian seaside flavours, quick enough for any day but special enough to impress. Give it a go in your own kitchen and enjoy the sunshine on your plate. Don’t forget to share it around your nearest and dearest — because good food is best enjoyed together!

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