The wonderful flavor for the halibut comes from sautéing it with anchovies,
parsley, and garlic and then finishing it in the oven along with the
tagliarini and its creamy cooking water. Shellfish such as clams, mussels, or
prawns are also all delicious prepared in this parsley, garlic, and anchovy
sauce.


Serve with a dry reserve Riesling, such as Oregon’s Argyle Vineyards, 1996.

Serves 2.

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 ounces fresh tagliarini or dried tagliarini
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped, or 1 tablespoon chopped green garlic when available
  • 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 6 anchovy fillets
  • 2 halibut steaks or fillets (approximately 3/4 pound), skin on
  • 1/2 cup dry italian white wine
  • coarse or sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • a few drops of fresh lemon juice, optional

    DIRECTIONS

    Preheat the oven to 500°F.

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tagliarini and cook
    until about half-done, about 1 minute for fresh and 4 minutes for dried.
    (They will finish cooking in the braising liquid.) Drain, reserving 1/2 cup
    of the cooking water, and set aside.

    Warm the olive oil in a flameproof gratin dish or heavy oven-proof skillet
    over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the
    parsley and anchovies, pressing the anchovies with the tines of a fork.
    Continue to sauté until the parsley sizzles and the anchovies melt into the
    oil, about 3 minutes.

    Add the fish and sauté it briefly on both sides until the edges of the fish
    are opaque, about 1 minute on each side. Add the wine, increase the heat to
    high, and boil rapidly until it is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the
    reserved pasta water and the noodles, distributing them around and under the
    fish. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    Place in the oven and bake until the fish is cooked through and the pasta has
    begun to absorb the liquid, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and
    serve at once, directly from the dish. Sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice,
    if desired.

    Note: Cooking fish with skin and bone attached results in a much better
    texture and flavor.