Rape a la Marinera
Monkfish in a saffron, almond, and white wine sauce.
Ingredients
- 700 g Monkfish
- 1 Onion
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 50 g Almonds
- 150 ml White wine
- 300 ml Fish stock
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Saffron (optional)
- 3 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Cut the monkfish into chunks; chop the onion and garlic.
- Toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat, tossing, until golden and fragrant, then set aside.
- Soften the onion and garlic in the oil until translucent and sweet.
- Pound the softened onion and garlic with the toasted almonds and saffron into a thick paste in a mortar.
- Return the paste to the pan, add the wine, stock, and salt, and simmer into a sauce.
- Add the monkfish and cook gently until just opaque and firm.
- Scatter the parsley over and serve.
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About Rape a la Marinera
Rape a la marinera is a Spanish coastal dish of monkfish gently cooked in a saffron, almond, and white wine sauce, a preparation that belongs to the marinera tradition of seafood simmered in a garlicky, wine-based sauce. Monkfish is prized here for good reason: its firm, meaty flesh holds together in chunks and stays succulent, more like shellfish than a flaky white fish. The sauce is thickened not with flour but with a picada — toasted almonds pounded with softened onion, garlic, and saffron into a paste — a classic Iberian technique that gives body, nuttiness, and the golden, faintly floral perfume of saffron.
On the palate it is savory and delicate, the sweet monkfish set against the mellow depth of the almond-thickened broth and the aromatic warmth of saffron, with white wine lending brightness and parsley a fresh finish. Cooking the fish gently until just opaque is what keeps it firm and juicy rather than rubbery. Traditionally it is served with crusty bread to mop the sauce or alongside plain rice or potatoes, and a glass of the same dry white wine used in the pot. High in protein and low in carbohydrate, it is an elegant but unfussy dish that captures the character of Spanish seaside cooking.
Rape a la Marinera: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Rape a la Marinera?
A serving has about 392 calories — 30.7g protein, 8.4g carbs, 23.5g fat, 2.5g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 30.7g of protein, roughly 31% of its calories.
Is Rape a la Marinera gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Rape a la Marinera has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Rape a la Marinera?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out saffron, parsley — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Rape a la Marinera make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.