Seafood Al Cartoccio

OVEN SEAFOOD BAKE (PESCE AL CARTOCCIO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix together butter, garlic, lemon zest and juice.
• Season halibut with salt and pepper. Divide half of the butter mixture between the 2 steaks and spread it over one side.
• Sprinkle flour into large oven roasting bag (about 12 by 18 inch size) and shake bag to dust inside with flour. Place bag in a 10 by 15-inch baking pan, about 2 inches deep. Place halibut steaks side by side, buttered side down, in the bag.
• Arrange shrimp on top of fish, then top with clams and dot with remaining butter.
• Seal bag with twist tie according to manufacturer's instructions, and cut 4 to 6 small slits in top.
• Place in preheated oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes or until clams have opened.
• Slash top of bag just enough to remove food without losing juices. With slotted spoon, lift out clams and set aside. With slotted spatula, lift out fish and shrimp and place on a warm serving platter and surround with clams; keep warm.
• Pour cooking liquid into a wide pan, add cream and cook over high heat until liquid is reduced to about 3/4 cup.
• Garnish fish with parsley and pass sauce to pour over each serving.

OVEN-BAKED SEAFOOD SPAGHETTI (SPAGHETTI AL CARTOCCIO)

Steps:

• Wash all the shellfish very well. Set a pot with 3 quarts of lightly salted water to boil over high heat.
• In the meantime, pour the olive oil into a large skillet and add the garlic, the chile pepper, and the seafood. Cook over a low flame for 5 minutes, then add the chopped tomatoes, basil, and parsley. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 450 F (250 C).
• Keep an eye on the pasta pot as the sauce simmers, and when the water boils add the pasta. Let it cook until half done (usually about 4 minutes), then drain it well in a colander and transfer it while it is still dripping to the skillet with the sauce.
• Toss the pasta-and-sauce mixture by moving the skillet as you would if you were flipping an omelet. Roll out a long sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper and fold up the sides to make a box-like container.
• Transfer the pasta to the container, fold the aluminum foil or paper over it, and crimp the edges together to make a sealed pouch (you can also make individual pouches for your guests if you wish).
• Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, at which point the pouch will have puffed up. Slide it onto a serving dish and open it at the table.

SEAFOOD SPAGHETTI AL CARTOCCIO (BAKED IN PARCHMENT PAPER)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200C / 400F (with or without fan assistance is fine).
• Bring a large pot of water to boil (at least 1 litre of water) and season with salt (1 tablespoon per litre of water). Add in the spaghetti or pasta of choice and cook 2 minutes shy of al dente (according to package instructions).
• While the pasta is cooking, season the prawns, squid and salmon fillet with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
• When the pasta is ready, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta. Transfer the pasta into a mixing bowl and add in the tomato sauce and cream. Toss to combine. Add in pasta water, bit by bit, to loosen the pasta if necessary.
• Prepare 2 large pieces of parchment paper - at least 17x15-inch big. Divide the pasta between the two parchment paper and arrange it in the middle. Pour any remaining sauce over the pasta. Divide the sliced bell pepper (if using) on top of the pasta. Divide the seafood and arrange them on top of the bell peppers.
• To wrap the parcels, pick up the long sides of the parchment paper over the pasta until the edges meet. Fold the edges down a few times until the edges are tight over the pasta. Pick up the short sides of the parchment paper, scrunch them up to tie a knot over the pasta, be careful not to tear the parchment paper. Make sure the parcels are sealed so that the sauce will not ooze out during baking.
• Transfer the parcels carefully to a baking sheet and bake in the center rack for 18 to 20 minutes until the seafood is cooked and the sauce is bubbling. Remove the baking sheet and transfer each parcel to a shallow serving bowl and serve them immediately.
• Let your guests unwrap the parcels and garnish with Italian parsley, Parmesan cheese and chili flakes themselves.