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Bourdeto

Bourdéto: Corfu's fiery fish stew in red pepper, onion and olive oil sauce

Bourdeto, from the Venetian 'brodetto', is the fishermen's dish of Corfu: chunks of firm white fish (scorpion fish in the tavernas of Kassiopi and Paleokastritsa) poached in a fierce sauce of onions, olive oil, a little tomato and a lot of hot red pepper. It's eaten with bread for the oily, scarlet juices and a cool salad alongside. Common mistake: stirring once the fish is in, which breaks it up — shake the pan instead. Chef's tip: use fish on the bone, cut into steaks; the bones give the sauce body and the flesh stays moist.
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Fresh ingredients (4)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Season 2 ⅝ lb firm white fish steaks on the bone (scorpion fish, gurnard, monkfish or cod) with ½ tsp salt and leave in the fridge while you make the sauce.

  2. Step 2: Warm ½ cup extra virgin olive oil in a wide, shallow pan over a medium-low heat and cook 2 onions slowly until very soft and sweet, not browned.

    12 min
  3. Step 3: Add 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp sweet paprika and 1 tsp cayenne pepper and stir for 30 seconds, then add 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 ¾ cups hot water and the rest of ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 8 minutes until the sauce is red and slightly thickened.

    9 min
  4. Step 4: Lay the fish in the sauce in one layer and spoon some sauce over. Cover and simmer gently, shaking the pan now and then, until the flesh is opaque all the way to the bone and flakes easily.

    12 min
  5. Step 5: Pour 1 lemon over, shake the pan and rest for 2 minutes. Serve with plenty of bread.

    2 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
400 kcal
Protein
42 g
Carbs
9 g
Fat
22 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

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Good to know

How long does bourdeto take?
About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of onions?
2 shallots per onion.
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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