Garumfishstew
SERVES 6 //PREPTIME 20 MINS(PLUSPREPARINGCRAB)//COOK1 HR5 MINS
“Thisdishis alsofantasticwith softpolenta,”saysZoccali.
2 livemudcrabs(700gm-
900gmeach)orlarge
blueswimmercrabs
2 tbspextra-virginolive
oil,plusextrafor
drizzling
1 largeonionorleek,
finelychopped
1 carrot,finelychopped
1 largecelerystalk,
finelychopped
5 garliccloves,
finelychopped
2 bayleaves
300 gmSoutherncalamari,
cleaned(skinon)
50 mlVecchiaRomagna
brandy,Cognacorbrandy
125 ml dry white wine
800 gmcannedchopped
tomatoes,preferablyMutti
100 mlfishsauce(garum)
½ cupbasil,coarselychopped
400 gmblackmussels,
beardsremoved
400 gmclams,purged
inwatertoremovesand
Finelychoppedflat-leaf
parsley,toserve
6 slicesthicktoasted
sourdoughbread,rubbed
with garlic, to serve1 Killcrabshumanely(see
cook’snotesp152).Toclean,
lifttheabdominalflaponthe
undersideandpulloffthetop
shell.Removeanddiscardthe
finger-likegills.Rinsecrabs
quicklyundercoldwater,cutinto
quartersandcracktheclaws.
2 Heatoilina largecasserole
orsaucepanovermedium
heat.Addonion,carrot,celery,
garlicandbayleaves,and
stiruntilonionis translucent
(15-20minutes).Addcalamari,
increaseheattohighand
cook,turningoccasionally,
untilgolden(5minutes).Add
brandy,simmeruntilevaporated
(1 minute), then add wine andsimmeruntilalmostfully
evaporated.Addtomato,
75mlgarumand250mlwater,
reduceheattolow,cover
witha lid,andsimmer,stirring
occasionallytopreventsauce
sticking,untilcalamari is tender
(30minutes).
3 Addbasilandcrab,making
surecrabis submerged(add
morewatertocoverif needed),
cookfor5 minutes,thenadd
musselsandclams,andcook
untiltheyopen(3-4minutes).
Checkseasoning,adding
remaininggarumif needed,to
taste.Drizzlewithextra-virgin
oliveoil,scatterwithparsleyand
serve with toasted sourdough.●CHEFNINOZOCCALISAYS:
“I liketousegaruminbraisesandpasta
dishes– it addsmoresweetnessthanusing
salt.I findit is particularlygoodwithtomatoes
andslow-cookedleeksorsquid-inkpasta,
as well as in this fish stew.”GarumfishstewBrittNeech
amphoravasefromPépite.
CasserolefromLeCreuset.
BasixlinennapkinfromHale
MercantileCo.Background
tilesfromSurfaceGallery.All
other propsstylist’sown.
Stockists p152.GOURMET TRAVELLER 37The explainer