Description
Ancona-Style Brodetto is a traditional Italian fish stew featuring a tangy tomato-based broth infused with fresh herbs, vegetables, and a variety of seafood including red snapper, clams, and shrimp. Served over toasted Italian bread, this savory and hearty dish embodies the coastal flavors of the Adriatic Sea region.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- Red pepper flakes to taste
Seafood and Liquids
- 1.5 pounds red snapper fillets, cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 pound clams in shell, scrubbed
- 0.5 pound medium shrimp, with shells
- 0.5 cup white vinegar
- 3 cups fish stock
- 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
Other Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 6 (3/4 inch thick) slices Italian bread, toasted
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, Dutch oven, or clay pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, celery, carrot, parsley, garlic, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Simmer: Stir in the mashed whole peeled tomatoes and cook the mixture for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Cook Fish and Vinegar: Add the cut red snapper fillets and white vinegar (or white wine if preferred) to the pot. Cook until the liquid has nearly evaporated, approximately 10 minutes, concentrating the flavors.
- Add Fish Stock and Simmer: Pour in the fish stock, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the stew simmer gently for 10 minutes to infuse the broth with seafood flavor.
- Cook Clams: Gently stir in the clams and cook until they open, about 2 minutes. Discard any clams that remain closed to ensure safety and quality.
- Add Shrimp: Stir in the shrimp and cook until they turn pink and opaque, around 3 minutes. Season the stew with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Place one slice of toasted Italian bread in the bottom of each bowl. Spoon the brodetto fish stew over the bread and serve immediately, allowing the bread to soak up the rich broth.
Notes
- This recipe offers a flavorful, tangy tomato-based fish broth packed with fresh clams, shrimp, and fish, embodying authentic Ancona coastal cuisine.
- You can customize the stew by adding lobster or other seafood varieties to enrich the flavor and texture.
- Using a clay pot for cooking is traditional and helps retain heat evenly, but a large Dutch oven or heavy saucepan works well too.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the bread soaked with the delicious stew broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1006 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
