Viareggio fish casserole

6 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1kilogramsSquid; cleaned and cut
; into rings (2lb)
500gramsHuss; shark or swordfish,
; cleaned and cut
; into chunks (1lb)
1kilogramsMonkfish; cleaned and cut
; into chunks (2lb)
1kilogramsShellfish; such as prawns,
; shrimps, lobsters,
; crab or
; langoustines (2lb)
500gramsLive mussels; cleaned (1lb)
5Garlic cloves
8tablespoonsExtra-virgin olive oil
1Dried red chilli
300millilitresDry white wine; (1/2 pint)
2397 g; (14oz) can of
; chopped tomatoes
1smallOnion; chopped
1Celery stick; chopped
1Carrot; chopped
A handful of fresh parsley; chopped
½Lemon; chopped finely
300millilitresFish stock; about (1/2pint)
8Sprigs fresh parsley
125millilitresDry white wine; (4 fl oz)
10Thick slices ciabatta bread; toasted lightly
Salt and pepper
Chopped fresh parsley; to garnish

Directions

Put all the different types of fish and shellfish in seperate bowls.

Lightly crush two of the garlic cloves.

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the crushed garlic and whole chilli for 5-10 minutes or until just coloured.

Add the squid and mix together thoroughly.

Add the white wine and the tomatoes and boil off the alcohol, then cover and simmer for about 1½ hours.

Meanwhile, put the onion, celery, carrot, chopped parsley and lemon in a seperate saucepan with about 8 tablespoons fish stock.

Bring to the boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft, then add the huss, shark or swordfish.

Season with salt and pepper, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.

Push this mixture through a sieve and then add to the squid.

Add the monkfish to the pan.

Keep the level of the liquid just over the fish by adding a little more stock if necessary.

Cook for about 5 minutes, then add the shellfish and stir them in thoroughly.

Leave to simmer while you prepare the mussels.

Cut the remaining garlic cloves in half and place in a seperate large saucepan with the parsley sprigs and the wine.

Add the mussels and put over a high heat, shaking the saucepan continously, for about 7 minutes or until all the mussel shells have opened.

Remove the mussels from the pan with a slotted spoon and discard any that have not opened.

Add the remaining mussels, with their shells, to the rest of the fish.

Strain the mussel cooking liquid into the fish and heat through for about 4 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat.

Arrange the toasted bread slices in the bottom of a very large, warmed shallow serving bowl.

Pour all the fish and the liquid over the bread, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

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