Sicilian-style Pasta with Grilled Mackerel

🍝 Sicilian-style Pasta with Grilled Mackerel

(With turmeric & paprika, no wine or saffron — includes toasted pine nuts & breadcrumbs)

🧂 Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

• 7–10 oz (200–300 g) lightly smoked mackerel fillets

• 1 large fennel bulb, halved and thinly sliced (≈ 1½–2 cups)

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced (≈ 1 cup)

• ⅓ cup chopped dried fruit (e.g. sultanas, apricots, or dates)

• ⅓ cup vegetable stock

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

• ¼ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 8 oz dry spaghetti (≈ 2½ cups cooked)

• 2 tablespoons pine nuts

• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (fresh or panko)

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the mackerel
   Rub fillets with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Set aside.

2. Cook fennel and onion
   Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add fennel and onion. Sauté gently for 10–15 minutes, until very soft and lightly golden.

3. Soak dried fruit and spices
   In a small bowl, combine the chopped dried fruit, vegetable stock, lemon juice, turmeric, and paprika. Let sit while the veg cooks.

4. Toast pine nuts
   In a dry pan over medium-low heat, toast pine nuts, stirring constantly, for 2–3 minutes until golden. Remove to a plate.

5. Toast breadcrumbs
   In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon olive oil and the breadcrumbs. Stir over medium heat for 3–5 minutes until crisp and golden. Transfer to a separate plate.

6. Deglaze & combine
   Once the fennel and onion are soft, pour in the fruit-stock-spice mixture. Let it simmer gently for 2–3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Add pasta
   Stir in the cooked spaghetti and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss gently to combine and warm through.

8. Grill the mackerel
   In a separate pan or under the grill, cook mackerel fillets skin-side down for 2–3 minutes until crispy and just cooked through. Flip if needed.

9. Serve
   Plate the pasta, top with grilled mackerel, then sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and breadcrumbs.