This dish comes from the Posillipo district of Naples.
Posillipo is thought to come from a Greek word ‘pausílypon’ meaning ‘respite from worry’. In ancient times, the coastline would have been extremely rocky with little chance of mooring your boat in a safe place. Posillipo has small coves with breakwaters which helped the ancient Greeks settle along the coastline.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
30ml/2 fl oz Fattoria Terranova Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Large peeled garlic cloves finely chopped
A pinch of Fattoria Terranova Chilli Flakes
280g/10oz Fresh Mussels, scrubbed & rinsed
16 Squid rings
225g/8oz Fresh Peeled Prawns
450g/1lb Garofalo Spaghetti
Flat leaf parsley finely chopped to serve
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
To Prepare
Place the oil in a large sized pan over a medium heat, & when the oil is warm, add the garlic & chilli, lightly sauté until it’s lightly soft
Add the mussels & the squid to the pan & as soon as the mussels open, place the contents on a plate & set aside. Discard any mussels that do not open.
Add the prawns to the large pan & sauté over a high heat for a few minutes until cooked.
Pick the flesh from the mussels & return it to the pan with the squid, garlic & chilli. You can keep the shells if you prefer for presentation purposes.
Season with salt & pepper, & mix thoroughly to heat through.
Meanwhile cook the spaghetti in a large pan of salted boiling water until al dente. Add the spaghetti to the sauce with a little of the salty cooking water.
Stir well & transfer to a warm bowl & sprinkle with lots of chopped parsley.
Serve immediately.
Buon appetito!
Posillipo is famous for beautiful paintings, right? We went to an exhibition last year in Napoli but I can’t remember where!
It’s an amazing city. I love it so much. It’s lovely to hear a little about the origins of recipes.
Posillipo has certainly been immortalised in many paintings and styles over the centuries. The view of the Bay of Naples is easily the best spot for budding artists. From Joseph Wright to Guiseppe De Nittis and Domenico Ammirato. Naples is an amazing city