Serves 4–6
Preparation time 20 minutes
Cooking time 45 minutes
500 g (1 lb) monkfish tail
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
500 g (1 lb) ripe tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and chopped
¼ teaspoon saffron threads
1.8 litres (3 pints) fish stock
375 g (12 oz) dried fideus
1 kg (2 lb) small live mussels, cleaned (see page 120)
salt and black pepper
garlic mayonnaise, to serve
Wash and dry the monkfish tail. Using a sharp knife, cut through the bone to produce large chunks.
Heat half the oil in a saucepan over a low heat, add the onion, garlic and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the monkfish, saffron threads and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove the fish with a slotted spoon and set aside. Simmer the broth gently for a further 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a flameproof casserole over a medium heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes until golden.
Gradually stir in the tomato broth and simmer gently, stirring, until the pasta is cooked. Add the mussels, stir well and then add the monkfish. Cook for a further 5–6 minutes until the mussels have opened and the monkfish is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper and serve with garlic mayonnaise.
For seafood pasta, replace the monkfish with 750 g (1½ lb) live clams and 500 g (1 lb) cleaned squid, cut into rings. Add to the pan with the mussels and continue with the recipe as above. Serve with spicy garlic mayonnaise, adding a good pinch each of chilli powder and paprika to the garlic mayonnaise.