
Fish guazzetto, almost a soup
“This is not really a fish soup, but then there is no exact translation for guazzetto, which is a rather wet tomato-based fish dish. In this recipe the freshness of the fish will determine the outcome. A particular sensibility to fish is needed to understand how to bring it all together without overcooking.”
Ingredients
20 clams or pipis, cleaned
20 mussels, cleaned and debearded
2 medium-sized calamari, cut into squares
4 large prawns, unshelled
4 scampi or Moreton Bay bugs (or add more prawns)
2 white fish fillets (don’t use salmon or other oily fish), cut into bite-sized pieces
olive oil
a generous slug of white wine
400 ml tomato sauce
5 fresh, ripe tomatoes, peeled and diced
a touch of chopped chilli
freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method
Step 1
Clean and prepare the seafood.
Step 2
Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the clams and white wine and steam until they open. Strain off the liquor to remove any sand and set the clams aside. Repeat, to open the mussels.
Step 3
Wipe the pan clean and heat a little more oil. Quickly sear the prawns until they turn pink. Set aside while you repeat with the scampi and calamari. Finally, sear the fish fillets on both sides and set aside with the other seafood.
Step 4
Add the tomato sauce to the pan and bring to the boil. Add the fresh tomatoes and chilli. Carefully return the seafood to the pan, starting with the fish, then the prawns, scampi, calamari, mussels and clams.
Step 5
Add the strained liquor, avoiding any sand. If the dish is very thick you may need to add a little fish stock or water to thin slightly. Simmer for a few minutes until the flavours have melded.
Step 6
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with grilled bread that has been rubbed with a little garlic and good olive oil.