Description
Using tinned mussels and mackerel make it easy to give this pasta tons of flavor.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked rigatoni
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 shallot, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 5 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons drained nonpareil capers
- 4 whole anchovy fillets (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 small lemon)
- 1 (3.7-ounce) tin smoked mackerel packed in oil (such as fishwife), drained, skin removed, and torn into large chunks
- 1 (4.2-ounce) tin smoked mussels packed in oil (such as patagonia provisions), undrained
- 1 ounce parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup), plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain pasta and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
- While pasta is boiling, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shallot, garlic, capers, and anchovies. Cook, stirring often, until shallot and garlic are softened and starting to brown, and anchovies are disintegrated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add crushed red pepper, cook, sitting constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of the butter; cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes burst and sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, mackerel, and mussels. Cook, gently stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 1 minute. Add drained pasta, parmigiano, 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Cook, gently tossing, until pasta is evenly coated in sauce, adding remaining reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen sauce. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
- Divide between 4 bowls, garnish with additional parmigiano and parsley, and serve immediately.