Best 2 Catalan Fideuà Recipes

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In the vibrant tapestry of Spanish cuisine, Catalan fideuà stands as a culinary masterpiece, a testament to the region's rich history and love for seafood. This delectable dish, hailing from the coastal regions of Catalonia, is a unique fusion of flavors and textures, a symphony of tastes that tantalizes the palate. Fideuà is an ode to the bountiful Mediterranean Sea, a celebration of its abundant gifts. It is a paella-like dish, where traditional rice is replaced with short, thin noodles called fideus, creating a delightful interplay of flavors and textures. The noodles, toasted in olive oil, absorb the essence of the flavorful broth, infused with the essence of seafood and aromatic spices. Succulent shrimp, tender mussels, and calamari dance harmoniously in this culinary symphony, their briny sweetness perfectly complementing the savory broth. Each bite is a journey through the culinary heritage of Catalonia, a celebration of the region's deep connection to the sea.

This article presents a collection of fideuà recipes that capture the essence of this beloved dish, each with its unique flair and culinary artistry. From the traditional Catalan fideuà, bursting with the flavors of the Mediterranean, to innovative takes that incorporate contemporary ingredients and cooking techniques, these recipes showcase the versatility and boundless creativity of this culinary gem. Explore the classic fideuà recipe, a culinary cornerstone of Catalan cuisine, and discover the secrets to achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Embark on a culinary adventure with the black fideuà recipe, where squid ink infuses the dish with a mysterious allure, transforming it into a visual and gustatory delight. Delight in the flavors of the fideuà with seafood and artichokes, a harmonious blend of briny seafood and earthy artichokes, creating a symphony of flavors.

Uncover the secrets of the fideuà with vegetables, a vegetarian's paradise, where an array of colorful vegetables come together in a vibrant and flavorful symphony. And for a taste of the extraordinary, delve into the fideuà with lobster and prawns, a luxurious feast fit for special occasions, where the delicate sweetness of lobster and the succulent prawns elevate the dish to new heights of culinary excellence. Dive into the depths of fideuà with cuttlefish and prawns, a tantalizing combination of tender cuttlefish and succulent prawns, bathed in a flavorful broth that captures the essence of the sea. Discover the culinary artistry of the fideuà with monkfish and clams, where the delicate flavors of monkfish and clams harmonize beautifully, creating a dish that is both elegant and satisfying.

Prepare to be captivated by the fideuà with seafood and alioli, where the vibrant flavors of seafood are complemented by the creamy richness of alioli, a traditional Catalan sauce. Embark on a culinary journey with the fideuà with seafood and noodles, a delectable fusion of textures and flavors, where the noodles soak up the essence of the flavorful broth, creating a harmonious symphony of tastes. And finally, indulge in the fideuà with fideus gordos, a unique take on the classic dish, where thicker noodles add a delightful chewiness and heartiness to this beloved Catalan creation.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

CATALAN FIDEUà



Catalan Fideuà image

In Catalunya, the northeastern part of Spain, there is a traditional dish called fideuà, made with short lengths of dry pasta called fideus. Instead of boiling the noodles Italian-style, the Catalan way is to cook them with only a small amount of liquid in a wide earthenware cazuela or paella pan. Here, the noodles are first browned in olive oil, then simmered in a rich fish and shellfish broth. It's a sort of cross between risotto and paella, and it's a dish for all lovers of Mediterranean fish soups in the bouillabaisse family. Broth is added at intervals as it is absorbed, but not much stirring is involved. A dab of garlicky allioli, the Spanish version of aïoli, is added to each soup plate before serving.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

Extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 pound small shrimp, shell on
4 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3 small dried hot red peppers, or use 1 pinch cayenne
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
1 large bay leaf
A few thyme sprigs
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 pounds meaty bones from cod, snapper or halibut, rinsed (or use boneless fish chunks)
12 clams
1 pound mussels, cleaned
1 pound fideus noodles (dry), or use Italian fedelini or spaghettini
Extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of saffron crumbled into 1/4 cup water
1 pound mussels, cleaned, for garnish
1/2 pound large shrimp, shell on, for garnish (optional)
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon orange zest
Allioli, for garnish (see recipe)

Steps:

  • Make the broth: Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add small shrimp, garlic, hot pepper, fennel, coriander, bay leaf and thyme. Season generously with salt and pepper, stir to coat and cook 2 minutes more.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook 5 minutes, until mixture begins to look dry. Add fish bones, clams, 1 pound mussels and 8 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes.
  • Strain through a sturdy mesh sieve into another pot, pushing on solids with a wooden spoon. Discard solids and keep strained broth hot. Taste for salt. Broth should be well seasoned. (Can be made ahead, though eat it within 24 hours, or you can freeze it.)
  • Make the fideuà: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put fideus noodles in a large roasting pan or baking sheet. (If using Italian pasta, break it into 2-inch lengths first.) Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil over noodles and toss with hands to coat. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, turning with tongs if necessary, until noodles are golden brown. (May be done in advance.)
  • Place a cazuela or wide heavy pot on the stove. Add toasted noodles, pressing down a bit. Ladle 3 cups hot broth over noodles and bring to a boil. Push down on the noodles with a wooden spoon as they soften into the broth. Add saffron-infused water and cook for a minute, then stir to mix. Add enough hot broth to cover pasta by 1 inch. Lower heat and cook at a simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more broth (and adjust heat) if mixture dries out.
  • Scatter remaining 1 pound mussels over the top, then push them down until barely submerged. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until shells open. Turn off heat. The noodles should be cooked but firm, and the mixture a little soupy.
  • If using the large shell-on shrimp, season them and sauté in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes per side.
  • Ladle into individual soup plates. Mix the parsley with the orange zest. Garnish fideus with shrimp, if using, the parsley mixture and a spoonful of allioli.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 371, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 41 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 921 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CATALAN FIDEUA



CATALAN FIDEUA image

Categories     Shellfish

Yield 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 24

FOR THE BROTH
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 pound small shrimp, shell on
4 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3 small dried hot red peppers, or use 1 pinch cayenne
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
1 large bay leaf
A few thyme sprigs
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 pounds meaty bones from cod, snapper or halibut, rinsed (or use boneless fish chunks)
12 clams
1 pound mussels, cleaned
FOR THE FIDEUÀ
1 pound fideus noodles (dry), or use Italian fedelini or spaghettini
Extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of saffron crumbled into 1/4 cup water
1 pound mussels, cleaned, for garnish
1/2 pound large shrimp, shell on, for garnish (optional)
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon orange zest
Allioli, for garnish (see recipe)

Steps:

  • 1.Make the broth: Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add small shrimp, garlic, hot pepper, fennel, coriander, bay leaf and thyme. Season generously with salt and pepper, stir to coat and cook 2 minutes more. 2. Stir in tomato paste and cook 5 minutes, until mixture begins to look dry. Add fish bones, clams, 1 pound mussels and 8 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. 3. Strain through a sturdy mesh sieve into another pot, pushing on solids with a wooden spoon. Discard solids and keep strained broth hot. Taste for salt. Broth should be well seasoned. (Can be made ahead, though eat it within 24 hours, or you can freeze it.) 4. Make the fideuà: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put fideus noodles in a large roasting pan or baking sheet. (If using Italian pasta, break it into 2-inch lengths first.) Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil over noodles and toss with hands to coat. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, turning with tongs if necessary, until noodles are golden brown. (May be done in advance.) 5. Place a cazuela or wide heavy pot on the stove. Add toasted noodles, pressing down a bit. Ladle 3 cups hot broth over noodles and bring to a boil. Push down on the noodles with a wooden spoon as they soften into the broth. Add saffron-infused water and cook for a minute, then stir to mix. Add enough hot broth to cover pasta by 1 inch. Lower heat and cook at a simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more broth (and adjust heat) if mixture dries out. 6. Scatter remaining 1 pound mussels over the top, then push them down until barely submerged. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until shells open. Turn off heat. The noodles should be cooked but firm, and the mixture a little soupy. 7. If using the large shell-on shrimp, season them and sauté in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes per side.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality seafood: The quality of the seafood you use will greatly affect the final dish. Choose fresh, sustainably-sourced seafood for the best results.
  • Cook the noodles al dente: The noodles should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent them from becoming mushy.
  • Use a flavorful broth: The broth is the foundation of the fideuà. Use a flavorful broth made with seafood stock, chicken stock, or a combination of both.
  • Add vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition: Vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes add flavor and nutrition to the dish. You can also add other vegetables, such as zucchini or carrots.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan: When cooking the fideuà, do not overcrowd the pan. This will prevent the noodles from cooking evenly and will make the dish mushy.
  • Serve with lemon wedges: Lemon wedges add a bright, citrusy flavor to the fideuà. Serve them on the side so that people can add them to their own taste.

Conclusion:

Fideuà is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover seafood and is a perfect meal for a summer gathering. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, fideuà is a dish that anyone can make. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting seafood dish to try, give fideuà a try. You won't be disappointed!

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