Prawn Stuffed Spicy Fish With Vermicelli Recipes

FISH LINGUINE

Steps:

• Put the olive oil into a hot, thick-bottomed, high-sided pan. Grate in the garlic and fennel and soften, then add the anchovies and red onion. Saute, but do not brown. Add the salt then lay the red mullet fillets, skin side up, on top. Sprinkle with the lemon zest, and pour in a little white wine to stop everything frying, and to start stewing. Put in a good glug of olive oil, some pepper and the chile. Turn the heat down and add the juice from 1/2 the lemon and some fennel tops.
• Meanwhile cook the linguine in boiling, salted water until al dente.
• Gently toss the linguine and sauce together, check the seasoning and serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top and some more fennel tops.

STUFFED BRAISED SQUID

Steps:

• Place half the capers in a bowl with the breadcrumbs, egg, 1 tablespoon of oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Finely grate in the pecorino, peel the garlic, finely chop with the parsley (stalks and all), then scrunch it all together.
• Peel and finely slice the onion and place in a casserole pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, stirring occasionally. Now, a great nonna trick: squeeze the tomatoes while submerged in a bowl of water to remove the seeds (and prevent them going everywhere!). Add the tomatoes to the pan with the passata. Simmer on a low heat while you stuff the squid.
• Keeping the tentacles to one side, just over half-fill each squid tube with the breadcrumb mixture, pushing it right down into the tube but being mindful not to pack it too tightly. Use a cocktail stick or toothpick to seal or, like Franchina learnt from her grandparents, use a needle and thread. Stir the remaining capers into the sauce, then add the stuffed squid and tentacles. Simmer on a low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Use tongs to move the squid pieces to a board. Removing the sticks or thread, slice the tubes to reveal the filling, then arrange on a platter, spoon over a little sauce and pick over the basil. Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of starchy cooking water, then toss with the remaining sauce, loosening with a splash of cooking water, if needed. Serve with a grating of pecorino, alongside that tasty braised squid.