Description
Succulent fish puttanesca delivers bold Mediterranean flavors with tangy capers and briny olives. Rich tomato sauce and perfectly seasoned fish create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 white fish fillets (such as cod, halibut, or tilapia)
- 4 anchovy fillets, chopped (optional, for added depth)
- 1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes
- 4 tbsps olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- 2 tbsps capers, rinsed and drained
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat fish fillets dry and season comprehensively with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to create a flavor foundation.
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet, cooking fish fillets until achieving a golden-brown exterior with precise doneness, roughly 3-4 minutes per side.
- Sauce Foundation: Without cleaning the skillet, introduce additional olive oil and sauté garlic, anchovies, and red pepper flakes until releasing their aromatic essence.
- Sauce Development: Add diced tomatoes, olives, capers, oregano, and a hint of sugar, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld into a rich, complex sauce.
- Fish Integration: Gently immerse cooked fish fillets into the vibrant sauce, carefully coating them to ensure complete flavor absorption and optimal temperature.
- Garnishing and Serving: Sprinkle fresh parsley over the dish and present alongside crusty bread, pasta, or roasted vegetables to complement the Mediterranean-inspired profile.
Notes
- Perfect Fish Drying: Pat fish fillets completely dry with paper towels to ensure a crispy, golden sear without excess moisture interfering with browning.
- Control Heat Intensity: Maintain medium heat during fish cooking to prevent burning and achieve an evenly golden exterior while keeping the interior moist and flaky.
- Balance Sauce Acidity: Add a pinch of sugar to counteract the tomatoes’ sharp flavor, creating a harmonious and well-rounded sauce profile.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes to personal heat preference, allowing flexibility for those who enjoy mild or more intense flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg