FAST FOOD
Zuppa di pesce

Zuppa di pesce

Serves 6



½ cup   olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
4   cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1   fresh birdseye chilli, finely chopped
400 gm   clams (vongole), soaked and drained
1.2 kg   black mussels, scrubbed and bearded
4   egg tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
½ cup   finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
4 (500gm)   squid hoods, scored and thickly sliced
3 (325gm each)   blue swimmer crabs, cleaned and halved
450 gm   scampi, heads removed, cleaned and halved lengthways
3 cups   fish stock
110 gm (½ cup)   fregola (see note), roasted at 180C for 6 minutes
600 gm   snapper fillets, skinned, pin-boned and cut into 3cm pieces
1/4 cup   loosely-packed basil leaves


1 Heat oil in a large heavy-based saucepan or casserole, add garlic and chilli and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes or until soft.
2 Add clams, mussels, tomatoes and half the parsley and bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over high heat for 3 minutes or until clams and mussels open, then transfer to a large bowl, cover and keep warm. Add squid to pan and cook for 1 minute or until opaque, and transfer to bowl with clams and mussels. Add crabs and scampi to pan and cook for 3 minutes or until shells change in colour.
3 Add stock and fregola to pan, bring to a simmer, then cook, covered, over low heat for 6 minutes or until fregola is just tender. Add snapper and cook for 2-3 minutes or until just tender. Return other seafood to pan, add basil and remaining parsley and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes or until heated through.
4 Divide soup among bowls, drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.

Note Fregola is made from durum semolina pasta, which is rolled into irregular shapes, then roasted for a nutty flavour. Available from The Essential Ingredient and Enoteca Sileno.

RECIPE Pietro Porcu PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Heidi Moore


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