Paccheri with Shellfish, Squid, and Tomatoes

Ingredients for Paccheri with Shellfish, Squid, and Tomatoes

• 3 medium tomatoes, halved, seeds and cores removed

• 350g cleaned squid, bodies and tentacles separated

• 90ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling

• 675g small prawns, preferably head-on, peeled, deveined, shells and heads reserved

• 475ml dry white wine, divided

• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 450g cockles or Manila clams, scrubbed

• 450g mussels, scrubbed, debearded

• 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

• 900g paccheri or other large tube pasta

• Kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional)

• 1 cup torn basil

How to make Paccheri with Shellfish, Squid, and Tomatoes

Grate tomatoes, cut side down, on the largest holes of a box grater into a medium bowl until only the skin is left. Finely chop skin and add to bowl.

Cut squid bodies in half lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into 1/2" pieces. Place in a small bowl. Cut tentacles in half crosswise; add to bowl.

Heat 45ml oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Add reserved prawns shells and heads (if using). Cook, smashing down on shells and heads, until shells are beginning to brown, 10–12 minutes. Add 240ml wine and cook until reduced by half and alcohol aroma is gone, about 5 minutes. Add 475ml water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a bare simmer and cook until reduced by one-third, 15–20 minutes. Let stock cool 20 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids, into a heatproof measuring glass (you should have about 350ml ). Set aside.

Wipe out pot. Pour in remaining 3 tablespoons oil and heat over medium. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, about 5 minutes. Add grated tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes thicken slightly and begin to stick to bottom of pot, 6–8 minutes. Add cockles, mussels, red pepper flakes, and remaining 240ml wine. Cover pot and cook, shaking occasionally, until cockles and mussels are open, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cockles and mussels to a medium bowl, leaving behind any that have not opened. Cover pot again and cook unopened cockles and mussels another minute or so, then transfer to bowl with others. Discard any that have not opened at this point. Keep shellfish sauce warm.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, until just slightly under al dente, 6–8 minutes.

Using a heatproof measuring cup, scoop out about 240ml pasta water. Transfer pasta to pot with sauce with a slotted spoon or mesh spider. Add reserved stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and add prawns and squid to sauce. Cook, tossing constantly and adding pasta water a splash at a time as needed, until pasta is al dente and sauce is glossy and thick enough to cling to noodles, about 5 minutes. Add fish sauce, if using, and fold in steamed cockles and mussels. Taste and season with salt if needed.

Transfer pasta to a platter. Top with basil and drizzle with oil.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.