Neapolitan Seafood Soup

ZUPPA DI PESCE ALLA NAPOLETANA (NEAPOLITAN-STYLE FISH STEW)

Steps:

• Begin by sautéing a few slightly crushed garlic cloves in abundant olive oil. If you like, you can add a bit of peperoncino to sauté in the olive oil along with the garlic.
• When the garlic begins to give off its aroma and is just barely beginning to brown, add tomato. Season with salt and pepper (going light on the salt since the shellfish will be salty) and finely chopped parsley, then allow the tomatoes to simmer for about 10 minutes or so, or until they begin to reduce and reach a saucy consistency. Then add a splash of white wine.
• Add your seafood, starting with the varieties that take the longest to cook, then progressively adding those that take less time: Begin with the mollusks. With very young calamaretti (baby cuttlefish) let them simmer about 10 minutes before you add any other fish. Octopus or mature squid (which you should cut up into bite-sized pieces) will take much longer, usually about 30 minutes.
• Then add the fish and let that cook for another five to ten minutes, depending on the size.
• Then add shrimp or scallops, if using, along with the clams and mussels and simmer them until they open.
• Sprinkle with a bit more finely chopped parsley and serve immediately.

NEAPOLITAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Score an "x" in the bottom of each tomato. place tomatoes in boiling water for a minute, carefully remove tomatoes and plunge into an ice bath. The tomato skin will peel off easily.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Working in several batches, place tomatoes in the boiling water for 1 minute. Carefully remove and plunge into an ice bath. Transfer to a work surface and remove skins.
• Heat oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add tomatoes, crushing each one by hand. Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until sauce starts to thicken, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Stir in fresh basil and remove from the heat. Serve immediately.

NEAPOLITAN SEAFOOD SOUP

Steps:

• Mince 2 of the garlic cloves.
• Heat oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat until hot.
• Add onion, bell pepper, minced garlic, oregano and red pepper.
• Cover and cook 5 to 8 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally.
• Add wine.
• Increase heat to medium-high; cook 5 minutes or until wine is reduced by half.
• Add tomatoes, water, clam juice, parsley and salt.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low.
• Cover and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove cover.
• Increase heat to medium-high; bring to a gentle boil.
• Add shrimp, scallops and clams.
• Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops and clams are opaque.
• Meanwhile, rub toasted bread with remaining garlic clive.
• Place slice of bread in each soup bowl.
• Ladle soup over bread.
• Pass additional red pepper, if desired.

ITALIAN SEAFOOD SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil.
• Add onions, garlic, oregano and fennel.
• Sweat onions until tender.
• Add tomatoes, clam juice, wine and liquid from canned clams.
• Bring to stew consistency (about 15 minutes).
• Add shrimp, clams, and crab meat.
• Cook on medium heat about 2 minutes.
• Add basil, cayenne,and black pepper to taste.
• Simmer 2 more minutes.