Red mullets in tomato sauce recipe

Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes

Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese)

This is definitely a Tuscan recipe. You can find this recipe with the name "Triglie alla Livornese" or "Triglie alla Viareggina"; Livorno and Viareggio are the two Tuscan towns (not far apart from each other) facing the Tirreno sea and "Triglie" is the Italian for red mullets. It's a simple recipe but, as like most Italian recipes, the simpler the recipe the more fantastic is the final result.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2
Calories 650 kcal

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Ingredients
 

  • 2 Red mullets – in this recipe I used two big mullets, weighting 300 g (10 oz) each Usually, for this recipe, you should use smaller mullets of about 100 g (3 1/2 ounces) each, taking in account that you need 3 or 4 of these small mullets per person. However, you can cook big mullets in the same way and this is what I have done because my only option at the fish counter was to buy big fellas like the two featured in the photograph.
  • 80 ml (3 fl oz) Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1 Small celery stalk (finely chopped)
  • 400 grams (Just a bit less than 1 lb) Chopped tomatoes
  • A handful of flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
  • Salt and ground black pepper for seasoning

Instructions

  • First and foremost, clean the fish removing all the scales with a small knife. Do not scratch too hard because mullets have a delicate flesh and you could damage the fish.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Once the fish is cleaned inside and outside, give a final rinse under fresh running water.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Cleaned and ready for cooking.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Take a pan, wide enough to contain the fish. Add the olive oil and heat over medium heat.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Once the olive oil is hot, add the chopped garlic.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Immediately after the garlic, add the chopped celery or, if you prefer, you can add them to the pan at the same time.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Sweat off for a couple of minutes or until the garlic start changing its colour.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Then, add half of the chopped parsley you have previously prepared and gently stir for 30-40 seconds.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Add all your chopped tomatoes…
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • …and stir for few seconds to have an even mix.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Now, season with salt, not too much because later you will taste the sauce and eventually add some more salt if needed.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Finally, season with pepper, turn the heat down to low and cook the sauce for about 15 minutes.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • At this point, if the sauce have reduced too much, add a glass of hot water (alternatively, half glass of hot water and few drops of red wine). We need the sauce just slightly liquid because later, when the fish will be placed onto the plate, we will use this sauce to cover.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Now, the sauce is ready for the fish, but before putting the fish into the pan, taste and check for salt.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Then, lay the mullets in the pan.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Both the mullets are now lying in the sauce. If you are cooking small mullets, these should be nearly covered by the sauce. In my case, having to deal with two big fellas, I will baste them with the sauce every now and then.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Cover the pan with a lid…
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • …and cook for about 15 minutes. If your mullets are small, 10 minutes should be enough to cook them perfectly. Do not turn the fish because this kind of fish is very fragile; a gentle shake of the pan is probably all you need to set the sauce around the fish.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • This is me basting the fish after 5 minutes cooking (baste regularly during the cooking). Another 10 minutes and everything should be ready.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • When the fish is perfectly cooked, sprinkle with the remaining parsley.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes
  • Put the fish onto a plate using a spatula and cover with the sauce. Slices of warm country bread is what you need now and of course a nice glass of chilled white wine.
    Red mullets in tomato sauce (Triglie alla Livornese) | Seafood recipes

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal
Keyword Seafood
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Published
Categorised as Seafood

By Federico

Federico Pezzaioli is an ex-badass Italian Paratrooper on a mission - to make creating delicious authentic Italian food really easy. He researches, writes and photographs each recipe with the same attention to detail he used to apply to packing his parachute.

One comment

  1. I’m looking forward to cooking this. It’s got everything l like in it. Thanks for sharing and I’ll let t know how it turns out.

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