Massa de Tamboril or Monkfish Pasta is a Portuguese pasta dish that combines monkfish with a light sauce made of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and white wine. It’s a surprisingly simple dish, yet it is completely delicious and packed with Mediterranean flavours. The star of the dish is of course the monkfish, or Tamboril as it’s called in Portugal. Although often over looked, tamboril has an incredible taste and sophisticated texture, and I guarantee you will love this Portuguese recipe as much as I do!
Monkfish – Tamboril in Portugal
Monkfish which is also referred to as Frog fish and, even sea-devil, are a group of fish of the genus Lophius. In Portuguese, Tamboril is the name given to the species Lophius piscatorius, and you’ll find it at most fish counters and fish markets. Why frog fish, and sea devil? Well one look at its wide flat head, and gaping mouth filled to the brim with teeth will tell you how it got that name! However, hidden inside this not so pretty fish, is a sweet and firm lobster like meat. In some parts of the world, Tamboril are sometimes even called poor man’s lobster. Due to its firm texture, it’s widely used across Portugal in a variety of dishes, including stews (caldeirada), and aromatic rice dishes (arroz de marisco, or arroz de tamboril).
The recipe assumes you’ve already prepared your monkfish. At most markets and fish counters in Portugal, you can purchase a whole loin of monkfish prepared. In general, you’ll purchase the whole monkfish and you can choose to keep the whole of it, or just the loin, which the fish monger will cut and skin for you. The rest of the monkfish is great for stocks and stews, but it’s not necessary to keep! Alternatively you can use frozen monkfish loin which is available in the frozen fish section of most supermarkets.
The Pasta – Rigatoni
The general rule of thumb when cooking pasta dishes, is that for chunky sauces with vegetables or meat, then a larger pasta is chosen. In this case, our large pieces of monkfish, and the light sauce is perfect for some large Rigatoni. However, you can of course choose your own pasta!
An Authentic Monkfish Pasta Recipe
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