Italian Seafood Salad Insalata Di Mare Recipes

ITALIAN SEAFOOD SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with 3 quarts of water and add the Old Bay seasoning and 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, add the shrimp, lower the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes, until just firm. With a skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a large bowl. Leave 2 cups of the poaching liquid in the pot and discard the rest.
• Add the wine to the poaching liquid and bring to a boil. Add the scallops, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 minutes, until just cooked. With the skimmer, transfer the scallops to the bowl with the shrimp. Bring the poaching liquid back to a boil, add the calamari, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until just cooked. Be careful not to overcook any of the seafood or it will be tough! With the skimmer, transfer the calamari to the bowl.
• Bring the poaching liquid to a boil again, add the mussels, cover, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, until all the shells have opened, discarding any that don't open. Turn off the heat and set aside until the mussels in the broth are cool enough to handle. Remove the mussels from the shells and add to the bowl. Add 12 of the shells to the seafood and discard the rest. Set aside 1/2 cup of the poaching liquid, discarding the rest. Drain the seafood in a colander and put it all back into the bowl.
• For the dressing, heat the olive oil in a medium (10-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. (Be careful: Overcooked garlic will be bitter.) Add the tomatoes and cook over medium heat for 2 more minutes. Add the reserved poaching liquid, the limoncello, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook for 1 more minute. Pour the sauce over the seafood and toss gently. Add the fennel and parsley. Cut a lemon in half lengthwise, cut it thinly crosswise, and add it to the salad. Toss gently to combine and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• To serve, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and the juice of the remaining lemon. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature.

ITALIAN SEAFOOD SALAD (INSALATA DI MARE) RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot, add 3 quarts of water, the Old Bay seasoning, and a tablespoon of kosher salt.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and add the shrimp. Simmer over medium low for 3 minutes. Using a spider skimmer, transfer the shrimp to a medium bowl.
• Measure out 2 cups of the liquid and discard the rest. Return the two cups of liquid back to the pot.
• Add the wine to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low. Add the scallops and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Transfer the scallops to the bowl with the shrimp.
• Bring the liquid to a boil and add the calamari. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the calamari to the bowl with the shrimp and scallops.
• Bring the liquid to a boil and add the mussels. Cover the pan and simmer for 5 minutes, until the mussels open.
• Let the mixture cool.
• Remove the mussels from the shells with the exception of 12 shells and add the "naked" mussels to the bowl of seafood. Add the additional 12 mussel shells that still have "meat" to the bowl.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the poaching liquid.
• Place the seafood in a large colander to drain, and then place it back into the bowl.
• Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for one minute. Add the tomatoes and cook for two more minutes.
• Add the reserved poaching liquid, limoncello, lemon zest, lemon juice, a tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and cook for a minute.
• Pour the dressing over the seafood and add the fennel, parsley, and lemon slices.
• Toss the seafood to combine, cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle the seafood with two teaspoons of salt, a teaspoon of pepper, and the juice of one lemon.
• Toss and tasted for seasonings.

ITALIAN SEAFOOD SALAD (INSALATA DI MARE) RECIPE

Steps:

• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss shrimp with salt and baking soda and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Pick all but 10 mussels from their shells, discarding shells. Cut shrimp in half lengthwise down the middle. In a medium bowl, combine parsley, remaining 1/2 cup (120ml) lemon juice, lemon zest, remaining 1/2 cup (120ml) olive oil, remaining 2 minced cloves garlic, cayenne pepper, and coriander seed (if using). Whisk well.

VENETIAN SEAFOOD SALAD: INSALATA DI FRUTTI DI MARE VENEZIANA

Steps:

• To poach the seafood, you will need a large saucepan fitted with a colander insert. In the bottom of the pan, combine the celery, carrot, onion, bay leaf, lemon juice, salt, and water. Bring to a boil. Place the calamari in the colander and cook in the simmering water for 2 minutes. Remove from the water, transfer to a large bowl, and set aside. Place the scallops in the colander and cook until opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the water and transfer to the bowl with the calamari (large sea scallops may be cut in half horizontally after cooking; bay scallops may be left whole). Place the shrimp in the colander and cook until pink, about 3 minutes. Remove from the water. Peel, devein, and cut in half horizontally, adding them to the bowl with the calamari and scallops. Remove the colander from the pan and place the octopus directly in the saucepan, adding more water if necessary to completely cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer until tender, about 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer the octopus to a bowl and rinse under cold running water until octopus is completely cooled, about 5 minutes. Use your fingers and a small paring knife to remove the outer skin. Discard the hard mouth and head sac. Cut the tentacles and octopus on the bias into 1-inch pieces and add to the bowl with the other seafood. To prepare the salad, toss the julienned celery, carrots, bell peppers, scallion, parsley, basil, and garlic together in a serving bowl. Add the seafood and toss. Add the lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil and toss well. Season with the salt and generous grindings of pepper. Arrange 1 cup of lettuce on each serving plate. Top with equal portions of the seafood and vegetable mixture, and serve immediately. Variations: 6 to 8 steamed mussels may be added to the basic recipe and tossed with the other seafood. To extend the recipe and add a new texture dimension, 1/2 cup cubed, peeled, cooked Idaho potatoes and/or 1/2 cup cooked or canned (drained and rinsed) cannelini beans may be added to the basic recipe. Although it isn't traditional, I like this salad with a hint of chopped cilantro, about 2 teaspoons.

GRILLED INSALATA DI MARE

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high.
• Combine the seafood in a large bowl, toss with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill the shrimp for approximately 1 minute per side, remove and place on a platter. Grill the squid bodies and tentacles for 2 to 3 minutes per side, remove from the grill and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rings and place on the platter with the shrimp. Grill the scallops until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, place on the platter.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, honey, jalapeno and extra-virgin olive oil in a large bowl. Add the seafood, chili flakes, onion, celery, olives, oregano, and 1 tablespoon of the parsley and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Stir in the remaining parsley just before serving. Place the mesclun greens on a large platter and top with the seafood salad.