Italy Revisited-Part 2
This combination plate of squid and shrimp was served as an entree at Ristorante L’Approdo on the water’s edge in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. And here are the Garlic Prawns and Calamari recipes mentioned in Part 1.
Garlic Prawns
29 large prawns
1/4 c olive oil
3 oz butter
1/2 red chili, finely chopped (red pepper flakes to taste)
10 garlic cloves, crushed-yep I said 10!
1/4 c white wine
3 T chopped parsley
Peel and devein shrimp, leaving the tails intact (if you wish). Put the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the butter, chili and half the garlic. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Add the prawns and remaining garlic. Cook for 3 more minutes or until prawns are pink. Turn the prawns, add the wine and cook for another 4 minutes. Add the parsley, season well with salt and pepper and serve with fresh bread to dip into remaining garlic butter.
Calamari in padella con limone e pangrattato (From Jamie’s Italy)
olive oil
1-2 fresh red chiles, pricked (once again I used chili flakes to taste)
6 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
2 large handfuls breadcrumbs
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small package frozen calamari rings (defrosted as per package instructions)
1/2 lemon, very thinly sliced
a handful of flat leaf parsley, sliced
To make pangrattato, put 6 T olive oil into a think-bottomed pan. Add chili, garlic and breadcrumbs and stir for a couple of minutes, until the breadcrumbs are crisp and golden. Season with a little salt and pepper. Remove and set aside.
Wipe the pan with paper towels and put it back on a high heat. Add another splash of olive oil then season the rings and lay them gently in the hot pan with the lemon slices. If you can’t fit everything in, do them in 2 batches.-you don’t want them cramped together. Fry for a minute or so, until golden, then turn over and fry for the same amount of time on the other side. The lemons will colour and need to be turned more quickly than the calamari, so just remove them from the pan and put to one side. Take off the heat and divide the calamari and the lemon slices between your plates. Scatter the pangrattato and the finely sliced parsley over top. Serve immediately as they cool off quickly.
Kath’s quote: “Do not overcook this dish. Most seafoods…should be simply threatened with heat and then celebrated with joy.” –Jeff Smith