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Fish pasta on a white platter.

Easy Fish Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes

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  • Author: Jessie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Description

A quick and easy fish pasta with our favorite sustainable barramundi, summer tomatoes, and white wine.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 pound pasta (we used a large rigatoni)
  • 12 ounces barramundi (about 2 fillets), thawed
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 heaping cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1 small shallot, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup dry white wine (we used a chardonnay)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 small lemon, cut into wedges

Instructions

COOK THE PASTA & PREP THE FISH:

  1. Cook pasta in very salty water until al dente. Drain and set aside. 
  2. While the pasta cooks, cut barramundi fillets into 2-inch square pieces. (It's ok if they're not perfect - we just want them to be as uniform as possible to ensure even cooking!)

MAKE THE WHITE WINE SAUCE:

  1. Heat olive oil in a large, sturdy skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers (you want it nice and hot for your tomatoes!) Add cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring only once or twice, for 3-4 minutes until skins have blistered and begun to burst. Note: Use caution when blistering tomatoes, as they can spatter unexpectedly.
  2. Add shallot, garlic, and red pepper flakes to tomatoes and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 1-2 minutes, until shallot has softened and browned. Note: The pan will be HOT here - move quickly and stir frequently to prevent burning! If needed, turn down the heat.
  3. Add salt and pepper and stir to combine. 
  4. Add white wine to pan to deglaze. Use your spoon or spatula to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan - we want all that flavor!
  5. Add thyme and stir to combine. Bring sauce to a low simmer. 

COOK THE BARRAMUNDI:

  1. Gently place your barramundi pieces into the white wine sauce. Spoon some of the warm sauce over the top of each piece of fish to help them cook evenly. Cook at a low simmer, continuing to spoon the sauce over the fish every few minutes, for 6-10 minutes. When barramundi is cooked, it will be a bright, opaque white color and flake easily with a fork. 

    Note: You can flip the barramundi midway through cooking if you don't want to keep spooning sauce over the fish; it will just flake apart more easily. You can also cover the skillet with an airtight lid to help the fish cook evenly if you prefer. Choose your own adventure!

PLATE AND SERVE:

  1. When fish has cooked, taste your sauce and add salt if necessary.
  2. Toss your cooked pasta with a few large spoonfuls of the white wine sauce to keep noodles from sticking together.
  3. Place pasta on a plate or serving dish. Use a spoon or spatula to place fish and tomatoes on top of pasta, then drizzle remaining sauce over pasta (you can toss everything together instead of plating if you like - the fish just won't hold its shape as well!)
  4. Serve fish pasta immediately with lemon wedges and extra thyme leaves for garnish (optional). Squeeze the juice from a few lemon wedges over the pasta when you're ready to eat.

Notes

Substitutions. Use white onion, yellow onion, or leeks in place of shallot. Substitute stock or parmesan broth for all or part of the white wine if you like. Use 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme instead of fresh thyme. Substitute 2 cups roughly chopped tomato for the cherry tomatoes, or use 1/2 cup tomato sauce in their place for a smoother, more tomato-forward sauce. Use fresh basil, oregano, or parsley in place of thyme. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes instead of pasta, or omit the starch altogether and serve with a salad or fresh veggies.

Additions. Add your favorite veggies or legumes to this sauce (we like zucchini, chick peas, corn, fennel, or spinach!) and add a splash of heavy cream if you'd like a thicker sauce. 

Red pepper flakes can vary in intensity over time and between brands. We tested this recipe with several red pepper flake varieties and noticed different spice levels with each - taste as you cook and feel free to add more if you'd like things spicier!

Where can I buy barramundi? Find The Better Fish® barramundi near you with their handy online store locator and at Whole Foods nationwide.

Equipment. Use a thick, sturdy skillet for this sauce recipe. We like our favorite cast iron skillet or a deep, wide stainless steel pan