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    Home » Main Dishes » "Risotto alla Pescatora" - Seafood Risotto

    "Risotto alla Pescatora" - Seafood Risotto

    Published: Aug 26, 2018 · Modified: May 7, 2021 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Total time to make this recipe: 40 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    I have really fond memories of Risotto alla Pescatora. It was my go-to dish to order in restaurants on summer holidays when I was little.
    The name "Alla pescatora" literally means "fisherman's style". Seafood is really popular in Italy and we have to differentiate all the seafood dishes we have with cute names. For example seafood spaghetti are "allo scoglio" (sea rock's style). Both have the same seafood condiment although spaghetti can be either with or without tomato sauce while the risotto is usually with tomato sauce.

    This seafood risotto is not the easiest dish to cook. Especially in a restaurant where risotto can overcook very easily if you lose attention for a minute. Or the fish may be not be cleaned very well and the clams may have sand inside or the sauce may be too bland. So many things can go wrong and today I'm more afraid of getting a bad risotto in a restaurant. So, I don't take the risk unless I know it's a very good restaurant.

    white plate with seafood risotto
    overhead blue plate with seafood risotto, mussels and 2 wooden spoons

    Which ingredients you need to make this Risotto

    As most of Italian recipes, the ingredients are very basic: fresh seafood, garlic, tomato sauce, white wine and parsley.

    In Italy you can easily find in most supermarkets frozen seafood mix which is great to cook this dish when fresh seafood is not available. Or in bigger supermarkets with a fish stall, they can make you the seafood mix. So you don't have to buy all the separate ingredients (which can be very expensive).
    In the Netherlands there is nothing of that sort.
    You can buy frozen seafood mix but it's mostly surimi which is not even seafood, and pre-cooked shrimps which are chewy. Also, fresh fish is available only once a week at the city market. And even there often they don't have mussels or clams. What a bummer.

    So I had to improvise. When in season, I bought 1 kilo of mussels and with the ones I didn't use for the risotto I made "impepata di cozze" (mussels with black pepper). Another one of my big favourites. I then bought fresh shrimps and squids and I was able to find only frozen clams.
    The result is not italian-restaurant quality since the fish here is not as flavourful as in Italy. But it was still very delicious and a good walk down flavor memory lane.

    close up of half plate with seafood risotto
    fork picking up the risotto from the plate
    a shrimp and risotto on a fork on the risotto plate

    The Recipe:

    If you like this recipe, check also these other Risottos:

    • Mojito Shrimp Risotto
    • Orange and Squid Risotto
    • Asparagus Risotto

    📖 RECIPE

    "Risotto alla Pescatora" - Seafood Risotto

    A summery tomato risotto with all the flavors of the sea made with fresh or frozen seafood. Just like you can find on the Italian coast restaurants.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Author: Jessica Montanelli

    Ingredients

    • 7 oz whole Mussels
    • 7 oz Shrimps
    • 7 oz Squids
    • 1 cup Carnaroli Rice
    • 2 Garlic cloves
    • 2 Shallots
    • ¼ cup White Wine
    • 2 cups Fish Stock, or Vegetable Stock
    • 1 tablespoon Tomato paste
    • Parsley
    • Chili Pepper flakes
    • Black Pepper

    Instructions

    • In a large pot drizzle some olive oil and add the 2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved. Add all the cleaned mussels and clams, making sure to throw away the cracked ones as they may have sand inside.
    • Turn on the heat to medium and cover the pot with the lid to steam the mussels and clams. Stir a couple of times and once they are all open, turn off the heat and set aside.
    • In another large pan, drizzle some more olive oil, add the 2 finely chopped shallots, the tomato paste and the rinsed rice. Turn on the heat to medium and toast the rice for a couple of minutes, until traslucent (be careful not to burn the shallot).
    • Pour the white wine and let it evaporate completely, then add the fish stock a couple of ladles at a time until completely absorbed. Cook for about 20 minutes, adding more liquid when necessary.
    • Halfway through the cooking time of the rice, add the mussels' water instead of the stock (if it's becoming too salty, add plain water). Add the cleaned and deveined shrimps and the cleaned squids, cut in rings.
    • When the rice is done, turn off the heat and add the mussels, clams, the finely chopped parsley and the chili pepper flakes before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 682 kcal | Carbohydrates: 92 g | Protein: 54 g | Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 495 mg | Sodium: 1804 mg | Iron: 10 mg

    Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Have you tried this recipe?Snap a photo and tag @jess.cookingmydreams or use the hashtag #cookingmydreams!
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    Comments

    1. Maria

      May 23, 2022 at 3:03 am

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe! Have made it several times and I absolutely love it!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! Born and raised in Siena, Tuscany, I've been immersed in the rich traditions of Italian cuisine my entire life. Through my food blog, I hope to share a slice of Tuscan warmth and the genuine flavors that have been a part of my journey since childhood.

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    334 shares