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.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 2
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 500°F.
Step 2
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.
Step 3
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.
Step 4
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.
Step 5
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.
