Passport & Plate - Dried Herring & Tuna in Brine Pesto Pasta
Philippines | Monday, March 10, 2014 | 2 photos
Ingredients
500g spaghetti
250g of tuna in brine
10 pcs. of dried herring/fish (deboned)
6 tablespoons of olive oil
1 bulb of garlic (chopped)
2 cups of fresh basil leaves (chopped)
1 teaspoon of black pepper
Salt to taste
Parmesan cheese to garnish
How to prepare this recipeHere is the easy peasy recipe:
1. For the pasta: Put it to boil and cook it as instructed on the packaging.
2. Fry/cook the dried herring/fish. Debone them after.
3. For the sauce: In a separate pan, sauté garlic, fresh basil leaves, tuna in brine, and the dried herring/fish, and black pepper in olive oil. Put salt to taste.
4. Pour the sauce into the cooked pasta. Garnish with parmesan cheese.
The story behind this recipeI was probably an Italian in my previous life for I have a big appetite for pasta. As a South East Asian, I am a rice eater but I get a different feeling every time I devour on spaghetti, fettuccine, bolognese, lasagna, and macaroni among many others. Every pasta-eating experience always gives me a very satisfied stomach.
To give a twist to my usual spaghetti recipe, I am sharing my Dried Herring & Tuna in Brine Pesto Pasta inspired by Real Simple’s Spaghetti with Herbs, Chilies, and Eggs.
As I was browsing for low-calorie food alternatives to rice some weeks ago I stumbled upon RS’s List of Healthy Breakfast Foods and the Spaghetti with Herbs, Chillies, and Eggs recipe instantly hit the spot. I was guided by the recipe though I have to replace some of the main ingredients. I replace the eggs with my little family’s favorite dried herring/fish and my personal favorite tuna in brine.
To get away from the usual tomato-based and cream-based sauces, I opted for pesto.
How was it? The goodness of al dente pasta, the saltiness brought by the dried herring/fish and the brine from the tuna, and the taste and aroma of basil are the right ingredients to make this recipe deliciozo! Though it was my first time to try the recipe, I was easily able to get the approval of the discriminating tongue of my little and extended family.
