Brodetto alla Vastese
Abruzzo · secondo · serves 6 · 90 min total · medium
The southern Abruzzo coast cooks its brodetto without wine — the difference between Vasto and Ancona is a small civil war on the Adriatic.
Ingredients
- 1500 g mixed Adriatic fish
- 300 g cuttlefish
- 500 g mussels
- 600 g plum tomatoes
- 1 medium green pepper
- 1 chilli diavolicchio
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 bunch parsley
- 80 ml olive oil
- 400 g grilled bread
Method
- In a wide terracotta pot (or wide pan), warm olive oil with garlic, chilli, and sliced green pepper.
- Add chopped tomatoes. Cook 10 minutes.
- The Vasto rule: no wine, no water, layer the fish on top without stirring.
- Layer: cuttlefish first (longest cook), firm fish, mussels and any small fish last.
- Cover. Cook 20 minutes — only shake the pan, never stir, so fish stays whole.
- Parsley on top. Serve over bread.