Sep 25 2008
Unexplained Colour Reversal
Because unexplained sex reversal has been on my mind at work this week.
- Black Pasta with Red Mullet
or, in our case… Red Pasta with Black Bream.
What can I say, we had sourcing issues. The fishmonger said that you only get Red Mullet in supermarkets- he’s probably right as it is a Mediterranean fish. Nigella suggested Red or Black Bream as an alternative so we got bream….it doesn’t look especially red so we assumed it was black, and agreed we’d be having Black Pasta with Black Fish….very emo!
But then Waitrose let me down. They definitely used to do fresh squid ink tagliolini, but there was none to be had today. I did my best not to cry in the chilled aisle (it had been a crummy day) and then got the bit between my teeth and thought, well, if we’re having black fish then why not red pasta? And thus it was born.
This was a nice straightforward dish to cook- almost quick enough to merit a slot in the Against the Clock chapter and certainly what I would call Everyday Easy although I realise my ideas about everyday cooking are somewhat skewed by an upbringing with two excellent foodie cooks. The fish is firstly fried in garlic oil and spring onions and then you poach it in some rosé wine. You then remove the fish, make a sauce with the wine and some capers and tomatoes and butter and combine it all with pasta and basil. Delish! The fish was beautifully cooked, delicate to the bite yet richly flavoursome. Lipsmackingly good stuff this. Sadly there is only one portion for lunch tomorrow…
capers make my mouth water. mmm.
truth be told, if I had but known, I could have given you some squid ink, as I have some, and have never used any at all. Next time it crops up, a wee visit to Dunbar could sort you out….