Gurnard Linguine with Dill and Lemon
This restaurant-quality gurnard linguine comes from Chef Matt Beardmore of Legare, the Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded London restaurant. Fresh and full of coastal flavor, it pairs tender pieces of gurnard with garlic, chilli, and dry white wine, before tossing everything with linguine, butter, and starchy pasta water to create a silky, glossy sauce.
Fresh dill and lemon bring brightness and balance, while a final grating of bottarga adds an intense savory, briny note. Bottarga is salted, pressed, and dried fish roe, most commonly made from grey mullet, and is best added at the end, away from direct heat, to preserve its distinctive flavor.
If bottarga is difficult to find, simply leave it out, the pasta will still be delicious. And if gurnard isn’t available, sea bass, sea bream, or red mullet all make excellent substitutes.
Gurnard Linguine with Dill and Lemon
Ingredients
- 500 g linguine
- 400 g gurnard fillet (sea bass, bream or red mullet also work well)
- 3-4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- pinch of dried chilli adjust to taste
- 150 ml olive oil
- 100 ml white wine
- 1 bunch dill 20g, chopped
- juice of 1 lemon
- 60 g butter
- 40 g grated bottarga this is optional as it can be a little tricky to get hold of but it’s just as delicious without
Instructions
- Make sure the gurnard has been scaled and any pin bones removed, then slice into 2 cm (3/4 inch) pieces.
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the linguine according to the packet instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large frying pan or sauté pan add the olive oil, sliced garlic and dried chilli. Turn on the heat to medium and gently saute for 1-2 minutes until until fragrant and softened, but not browned.
- Add the sliced fish to the pan and gently cook for another 2 minutes then add the white wine, try not to break up the fish too much.
- Let the wine cook off for a minute then add the butter
- Once the pasta is cooked (you can turn off the heat under the fish if it’s ready before the pasta) add it to the pan and gently toss everything together, along with a ladle or two of the pasta water.
- Add the chopped dill and lemon juice (don’t add the lemon juice all in one go – adjust to taste)
- Transfer to a serving platter and grate over the bottarga, finish with a healthy glug of olive oil, if you wish.
Notes
What does gurnard taste like?
Gurnard is a mild, slightly sweet fish with firm, meaty flesh. It holds its shape well during cooking, making it particularly suitable for pasta dishes, soups, and seafood stews.
What can I use instead of gurnard?
Sea bass, sea bream, and red mullet all work well in this recipe. Choose a fresh, firm-fleshed fish that can be cut into pieces and cooked gently without breaking apart too easily.
Can I make this pasta without bottarga?
Yes. Bottarga adds a concentrated salty, savory, and briny flavor, but it is completely optional. The combination of fish, white wine, dill, butter, garlic, and lemon provides plenty of flavor on its own.
When should bottarga be added to pasta?
Bottarga is best finely grated over the pasta at the end of cooking, ideally after the pan has been removed from the heat. Too much heat can dull its distinctive aroma and delicate marine flavor.
How do I keep the fish from falling apart?
Cut the fish into evenly sized pieces and cook it gently without overcooking. Avoid stirring the sauce vigorously; instead, turn the fish carefully and toss or fold the pasta through the sauce with gentle movements.
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