Mixed Seafood, Campeche Style
Pescado Mixta estilo CampecheCampeche, a historic town on the Yucatán peninsula, is also an important fishing port with a large fleet of shrimp boats and an excellent fish market. During a visit with a culinary group led by Mexican cuisine authority Diana Kennedy, we attended a fiesta within the walls of a fortress that was built in the 1600s to protect the town against raiding pirates. The event featured regional foods and entertainment, and the array of dishes to choose from was quite astounding. This is a simplified version of a sautéed mixed seafood dish from that amazing feast. Serve the seafood over rice. Saffron is very expensive, but only a tiny bit is needed. I used imported saffron from Spain and look for the brightest red threads for best quality.
Ingrediënten
Makes 6 servings
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large green bell pepper finely chopped
- ½ medium white onion finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot peeled and diced (¼ inch)
- 1 pound plum tomatoes cored and chopped
- 3 medium garlic cloves thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed saffron threads
- ½ teaspoon salt
Seafood
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 large shrimp about ¾ pound, peeled and deveined
- 12 oysters or sea scallops to suit your preference
- ⅓ pound prepared squid rings fresh or frozen
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructies
- To prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a large skillet.
- Add the pepper, onion and carrot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and reserve in the pan.
- In a blender, purée the tomatoes, garlic, and saffron until smooth.
- Press the mixture through a strainer into the pan with the peppers, then discard the pulp.
- Add the salt and return to medium-low heat.
- Simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- To prepare the seafood: in another large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and cook the shrimp, stirring, until pink and curled, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to the pan with the peppers.
- In the same skillet used to cook the shrimp, cook the oysters (or scallops), turning once, until lightly browned and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer to the pan with the shrimp and peppers.
- In the same skillet used to cook the shrimp and oysters, cook the squid, stirring, until just cooked, about 1 minute.
- Add to the other ingredients.
- Reheat, stirring frequently, until completely heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Serve hot.
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