Penne with Swordfish and Eggplant
Many Sicilian dishes feature swordfish, since it is very plentiful in the waters surrounding the island. Eggplant is also found in many dishes from this area, but I prefer the texture and taste of Japanese eggplants over the larger ones because their seeds are so tiny; there is also no need to salt the cubed eggplant because they aren’t as bitter as the fully mature ones can be.
Recipe information
Yield
4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
Step 2
Meanwhile, place a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1/3 cup olive oil, the garlic, red pepper flakes, and the 1/4 cup parsley. Stir and cook until fragrant, 1 or 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the eggplant from the pan and set aside. Season the swordfish cubes with salt and pepper.
Step 3
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the same pan, and cook the swordfish over medium-high heat until opaque, about 5 minutes, turning with a rubber spatula once or twice. Add the white wine and cook until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the tomatoes, eggplant, drained pasta, and the remaining 1/3 cup of parsley and stir. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with more salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine and serve.
