Cataplana Recipes

Steps:

• In a cataplana pan or shallow-sided pot with cover, heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until lightly browned. Add the shallots, if using, and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the clams, shrimp, tomatoes, wine and some paprika. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and steam gently over medium to medium-low heat just until the clams open and the shrimp are pink, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning. Sprinkle with the remaining oil, chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Serve directly out of the pan.

Steps:

• Wash cockles or clams under cold running water and scrub with a stiff brush. Place in a large bowl, cover with a wet towel, and reserve in the refrigerator.
• Core and seed peppers. Cut into fine julienne, about 2-inches long. Cut onion, zucchini, and yellow squash into similar julienne. Cut sausage or prosciutto into thin 2-inch lengths and finely julienne.
• Grease both halves of the interior of a cataplana, or large heavy Dutch-oven kettle, with butter. Put the clams in first, then the julienned vegetables, sausage, tomato, fish stock, Port, and pepper. Tightly close the two halves of the cataplana, using the pin and the clips on the outside to get a snug fit. Then place the closed dish over high heat for 10 minutes, or until the shells open. Just before the 10 minutes are up, open the cataplana, add the lemon juice and close it again for a minute or two.
• Remove the cataplana from the stove and open it at the table. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, ladle into soup bowls, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in the bottom of a cataplana or a wide saucepan with a close fitting lid.
• Place over a low/medium heat, cover with the lid and cook for 5-8 minutes until the mussel and clam shells have steam open.
• Stir well and remove and discard any mussels or clams which haven't opened. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Sauté onion in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until tender.
• In a large saucepan, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the onions, ham and oregano; cover and cook until the mixture is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the stock, ketchup, cream and Tabasco and bring to a boil. Immediately add the shrimp, squid and lobster. Return just to a boil, then simmer 2 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately with the rice.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wide non-stick pan with a tight-fitting lid. Fry the onions and potatoes for about 5 mins, or until starting to soften. Add the peppers, courgettes, tomatoes and garlic, then stir in the vinegar, if using, the bouillon and 200ml water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 mins, or until the peppers and courgettes are very tender (if your pan doesn't have a tight-fitting lid, wet a sheet of baking parchment and place over the stew before covering - this helps keep in the juices).
• Add the hake fillets, mussels and prawns, then cover and cook for 5 mins more, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Scatter over the parsley and serve.

Steps:

• In a stock pot, saute onions and garlic in oil until soft.
• Add all ingredients except seafood.
• Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes to 1 hour.
• Add seafood.
• Bring to a boil and simmer 10 - 15 minutes, just until seafood is cooked.