Pasta Cartoccio Frutta Di Mare Food

PASTA CARTOCCIO FRUTTA DI MARE

Steps:

• Cut the shrimp lengthwise in half. Cut each half crosswise. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and add the shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring, about one minute. Add the shrimp and scallops and cook, stirring, about one minute. Add the tomatoes and broth and bring to the boil. Let simmer about one minute and add the parsley, oregano and Cognac.
• Add the clams and mussels and cover closely. Cook until the clams and mussels open, about one and a half minutes. Add the crab meat, stir gently and remove from the heat.
• Bring four quarts of water to the boil and add the perciatelli. Cook, stirring down with a fork, about one and a half minutes and add the mezza-lasagne and fettuccine. Continue cooking about six minutes.
• Meanwhile, spread out on a flat surface a sheet of aluminum foil measuring about 17 by 30 inches. Fold the foil over itself to make a rectangle measuring 15 by 17 inches. Fold over the open edges to seal. Drain the pasta and place it in the foil bag. Pour the sauce with seafood into the bag. Scatter the basil leaves on top of the pasta and sauce. Fold the open end of the foil to seal it all around hermetically.
• Lightly oil the bottom of a metal, flame-proof dish or baking sheet and place the pasta-filled foil bag on top. Turn the burner to high. Cook for about two minutes, until the bag puffs like a pillow.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a long slit on one side of the bag. Divide the pasta and seafood among four heated dishes.

SPAGHETTI AI FRUTTI DI MARE

Steps:

• Prepare the octopus:
• Put octopus in a pressure cooker with water, bay leaf, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and seal pressure cooker with lid, then cook at high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions 10 minutes.
• Put pressure cooker in sink (do not remove lid) and run cold water over lid until pressure goes down completely. Remove lid. Transfer octopus to a cutting board, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Cut off and discard head, then cut tentacles into 1-inch pieces.
• Prepare the tomato sauce:
• Simmer tomatoes with their juice, basil, and olive oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, uncovered, stirring and mashing tomatoes occasionally, until thick and reduced to about 3/4 cup, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Prepare the basil puree:
• Puree basil, olive oil, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender, scraping down side as necessary, until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Prepare the pasta and seafood:
• Cook spaghetti in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until 'al dente'.
• Meanwhile, puree garlic and olive oil in cleaned blender until smooth.
• Heat a dry 12-inch heavy skillet (not nonstick) over high heat until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add olive oil mixture, then immediately add octopus, shrimp, and mussels and saute, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are browned on edges and mussels begin to open, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add tomato sauce and reserved octopus-cooking liquid and cook, stirring, until mussels just open wide and shrimp are just cooked through, about 2 minutes more (discard any unopened mussels). Season with salt and pepper.
• Drain pasta and return to pot.
• Add squid to hot seafood in skillet, stirring to combine, then add to hot pasta and toss to combine (squid will cook as it is being tossed). Serve drizzled with all of basil puree.
• Notes: If you do not have a pressure cooker, octopus can be simmered in a 4-quart pot with bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water, covered, turning occasionally, until tender, 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.
• Octopus can be cooked 1 day ahead and chilled, uncovered, until cool, then covered.
• Tomato sauce can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.