How to Cook Sicilian Pasta With Fish, Capers, and Almonds

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cook sicilian pasta with fish, capers, and almonds

How to Cook Sicilian Pasta With Fish, Capers, and Almonds

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Step 1 of 24

This recipe is inspired by the cuisine of the Eolian islands, an archipelago of small volcanic islands located a few miles north off the sicilian coast, in the province of Messina.

Step 2 of 24

Capers are found in many recipes of the Eolian cuisine because they literaly grow up everywhere. But they also are typical ingredient of the overall sicilian cuisine as well as almonds and fish.

Step 3 of 24
Fish should be already cleaned and cut in small pieces. Ask your fishmonger to do it for you if you're not skilled in fish cleaning. Also boil the tomatoes in water for 2-3 minutes and peel them.

Fish should be already cleaned and cut in small pieces. Ask your fishmonger to do it for you if you're not skilled in fish cleaning. Also boil the tomatoes in water for 2-3 minutes and peel them.

Step 4 of 24
Start browning the chopped garlic with a little bit of chili pepper in olive oil until golden.

Start browning the chopped garlic with a little bit of chili pepper in olive oil until golden.

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Stir in the fish meat and let cook until it turns white and firm.

Stir in the fish meat and let cook until it turns white and firm.

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Step 7 of 24
Add 1/2 glass of white wine and raise heat until the wine evaporates.

Add 1/2 glass of white wine and raise heat until the wine evaporates.

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Step 9 of 24
Lower heat and add capers. Stir and cook for about 1 minute.

Lower heat and add capers. Stir and cook for about 1 minute.

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Add peeled tomatoes and ...

Add peeled tomatoes and ...

Step 11 of 24
... the basil leaves.

... the basil leaves.

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Salt and pepper to taste.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Step 13 of 24
add 2 ladles of warm water.

add 2 ladles of warm water.

Step 14 of 24
Let cook for about 20 minutes, occasionally stirring and adding warm water everytime it thickens too much. Mash tomatoes where they're tender to make them release their juice.

Let cook for about 20 minutes, occasionally stirring and adding warm water everytime it thickens too much. Mash tomatoes where they're tender to make them release their juice.

Step 15 of 24
In the meantime slightly toast the crushed almonds. Don't burn them!

In the meantime slightly toast the crushed almonds. Don't burn them!

Step 16 of 24
Step 17 of 24
Cook pasta in salty boiling water until it's "al dente"

Cook pasta in salty boiling water until it's "al dente"

Step 18 of 24
Add pasta to the fish sauce along with sliced green olives and cook until the sauce thickens.

Add pasta to the fish sauce along with sliced green olives and cook until the sauce thickens.

Step 19 of 24
Step 20 of 24
Serve on large plates and  spread some crushed almond on top with a little bit of chopped parsley.

Serve on large plates and spread some crushed almond on top with a little bit of chopped parsley.

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Step 22 of 24
Step 23 of 24
Buon appetito!

Buon appetito!

Step 24 of 24

I've been in the island of Salina on last summer and it's simply wonderful with its crystal blue sea,its rocky seabed, its small white villages,its slow and relaxing lifestyle and its wonderful food!

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9 Comments
Supplies

200 Grams Pasta (fusilli or similar, prefer fresh pasta)

300 Grams Grape tomatoes (you can use cherry tomatoes)

2 Amberjacks (you can use other white fish like grouper

Capers

Crushed almonds

Green olives

½ Glass of white wine

Fresh basil

1 Bunch Parsley

2 Garlic cloves

A little bit of red chile peppers

Extra-virgin olive oil

Black pepper

Salt

Ngo Anh

I love red colour look food and this is perfect

Ngo Anh 7 months ago

Joy-and Cervantes

So making this for the weekend

Joy-and Cervantes 7 months ago

Kathleen Schwenk

You did good!

Kathleen Schwenk 8 months ago

Fabio Artix

@Eugenia: e chi l'ha tritato? E' prezzemolo :) Il basilico è a fogliette.

(author) 8 months ago

Eugenia Mini

ahhh un italiano non dovrebbe tritare il basilico! mannaggia!! ahah

Eugenia Mini 8 months ago

Felicia Gustin

Wonderful! Thanks for the great recipe!

Felicia Gustin 8 months ago

Helena Eklund

Thanks. I will definitely make it.

Helena Eklund 8 months ago

Fabio Artix

It's called amberjack fish (in Italy we call it "ricciola"). You can also use grouper, sea bass or swordfish if you don't find amberjack in your local fish market.

(author) 8 months ago

Helena Eklund

It looks really good. What kind of fish do you use?

Helena Eklund 8 months ago

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Fabio Artix

Yeah they're wonderful!

(author) 8 months ago

Daniel Raffel

The best capers I ever had was on the island of Salina!

Daniel Raffel 8 months ago

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