Description
Cacciucco is a rustic Tuscan seafood stew layered with bold coastal flavors from olive oil, garlic, wine, tomatoes, and a generous mix of fish and shellfish. Rich, brothy, and deeply comforting, it’s perfect served with garlicky toasted bread to soak up every drop.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
Pinch of chilli flakes
Pinch of fennel seeds
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 onion, finely diced
1 celery stick, finely diced
1 small octopus, cleaned and sliced
1 small squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
250 ml red wine
2 sprigs sage
400 ml passata
1 liter fish stock
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
200 g clams, cleaned
200 g mussels, cleaned
6 langoustines
200 g monkfish tail, cut into 6 pieces
200 g gurnard, cut into 6 pieces
200 g red snapper fillet, cut into 6 pieces
6 slices rustic bread, toasted
2 garlic cloves, for rubbing toast
Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chilli flakes and fennel seeds.
- Add onion, garlic, celery, and a pinch of salt. Cook gently until soft without browning.
- Remove the vegetables from the pot and set aside.
- Increase heat, add remaining olive oil, then add octopus and squid. Cook until liquid releases and evaporates.
- Return vegetables to the pot, add red wine and sage, and simmer until reduced by half.
- Add passata and 600 ml of fish stock. Simmer gently for about 1 hour, until octopus is tender.
- Add remaining fish stock to loosen the stew.
- Add fish pieces carefully, followed by langoustines. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add clams and mussels, cover, and cook for 3–4 minutes until shells open. Discard any unopened shellfish.
- Rub toasted bread with garlic and place in bowls.
- Spoon the stew over the bread and finish with chopped parsley.
Notes
Use the freshest seafood available for best flavor.
Adjust chilli flakes to control heat.
Do not stir too much once fish is added to keep pieces intact.
Discard any shellfish that do not open.
Best served immediately with garlic toast.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
