Il Cucinologo
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Fregola with Seafood

17/11/2023

Fregola with seafood is a typical dish of Sardinian cuisine that combines the scents of the sea with the unique texture of this semolina pasta, similar to couscous but toasted. Here’s how to prepare this delicious recipe.

Ingredients

  • 350 g of Sardinian fregola
  • 500 g of mixed seafood (such as mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp)
  • 200 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 glass of white wine
  • Fresh chopped parsley to taste
  • Fish stock to taste (or water if unavailable)
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Thoroughly clean all the seafood. For clams and mussels, remember to let them purge in cold salted water for about an hour, then rinse under running water and remove any encrustations or beards. Calamari can be cleaned by removing the innards and outer skin, then cut into rings. Shrimp, if not already cleaned, should be peeled and, if desired, deveined.

  2. In a large pan, sauté the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil, being careful not to burn them. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and let them cook until they start to break down.

  3. Add the seafood to the pan and sauté for a few minutes. Deglaze with white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.

  4. Meanwhile, bring the fish stock to a boil. If you don’t have stock available, you can use salted water.

  5. Add the fregola to the pan with the seafood and begin moistening with the hot fish stock, one ladle at a time, as if making risotto. Cook the fregola, adding stock whenever it dries out, for about 18 minutes or until the fregola is al dente.

  6. Once the fregola is cooked, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.

  7. Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the fregola to absorb all the flavors.

Trivia

Sardinian fregola is a traditional pasta made by rolling semolina in the hands to form small balls, which are then toasted in the oven. Its unique flavor pairs perfectly with the intense taste of seafood, creating a rich and flavorful dish that carries the tastes and aromas of the Mediterranean.