There is no doubt that one of
the most popular foods served in the USA today is Italian food, but where did
it come from? What is its origin? Italian food has evolved over the centuries.
The country that we know as Italy didn't become a country until the 19th
century. Its roots can be traced back as early as the 4th century BC. It is
because of this long history we are lucky to have so many different and tasty
foods from Italy. The ingredients and taste these dishes offer vary by region.
Many have become national dishes while others have remained regional
specialties.
Italian migrants from the
Southern region brought Italian cuisine to the United States. Macaroni and
cheese were one of the earliest Italian dishes Americans got to taste in
restaurants. The Italian cuisine started gaining popularity in the 80s and 90s.
Risottos and wine sauces of the North and pasta and pizzas of the South became
fashionable. And now, 100,000 out of 800,000 restaurants in the U.S. serve
Italian food.
Just like pizzas and pasta,
every Italian seafood is a must-try. Traditional Italian seafood recipes are
not family secrets anymore. If you want to stop your mouth watering by
satisfying your seafood craving, then you can buy seafood online or make your favourite seafood
dish in your own kitchen. So, let’s whet your appetite with one of the iconic
Italian seafood recipes - Clam Toasts with Pancetta.
Clam Toasts with
Pancetta
Ingredients
●
Finely chopped medium sweet onion - ½
●
Finely chopped small fennel bulb - ½
●
Fennel fronds - ¼ cup
●
Ground fennel - ½ tablespoon
●
Dry white wine, divided - 1 cup
●
Sourdough bread - 2 (1 1/12-inch-thick) slices
●
Olive Oil, divided, a little extra for drizzling - 4
tablespoons
●
Finely chopped pancetta (Italian bacon) - 2 ounces
●
Garlic clove - 4 (2 whole, 2 thinly sliced)
●
Bay Leaf - 1
●
Manila or littleneck clams or cockles - 1 pound
●
Parsley leaves with tender stems - ¼ cups
●
2 wide 3-inch strips lemon zest
Instructions
●
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a
large Skillet.
●
Add pancetta, cook and occasionally stir for 5-7 minutes
until brown and crisp.
●
Add sliced garlic, cook and stir for 1 minute until
golden around the edges.
●
Add chopped fennel and sweet onion after reducing heat
to medium-low. Cook and stir for 6-8 minutes until onion is translucent.
●
Add bay leaf, lemon zest, ½ cup wine, ground fennel and
a pinch of salt. Cook after increasing heat to medium-high. Stir for 3 minutes
until a small amount of wine is left and the mixture is a little saucy.
●
Discard bay leaf and lemon zest and move soffritto to a
medium bowl. Wipeout skillet.
●
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium
heat. Cook until golden brown after arranging slices of bread in a skillet.
Drain by transferring to a paper towel.
●
Cut 1 garlic clove half and then rub the cut side on one
side of each toast. Wipeout skillet.
●
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in the
same skillet. Crush remaining garlic, cook and stir for 1 minute until it
starts turning golden.
●
Add soffritto, clams and ½ cup wine. Bring to a boil
over medium-high heat.
●
Cook uncovered for 5-7 minutes until clams are open and
liquid is reduced by half. Discard clams that are not open.
●
Add fennel fronds and parsley and cook 1 minute longer.
●
Now taste and season with salt.
●
Spoon cooking broth and clam mixture over fried bread placed
on plates.
●
Drizzle with oil and then sprinkle red pepper flakes.
You can make Sofrito 2 days
ahead or you can also buy this seafood online; the choice is yours.
If you want to explore the
complete range of Italian Seafood then there is no need to go here and there.
Just visit Italian food online store to find the maximum variety of
authentic Italian products for sale on the web.
