Orata all’Acqua Pazza (Sea Bream in Tomato and White Wine Broth)
Why this recipe works
- Fast but delicate: Sea bream fillets cook quickly in the covered pan, making this a light dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Simple broth, clear flavour: Garlic, ripe tomato, white wine and parsley create a clean, savoury broth that complements the fish without overwhelming it.
- Gentle poaching: Cooking the fish at low heat keeps the flesh tender and helps the broth stay light rather than oily or cloudy.
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Ingredient notes
- Choose fresh, firm fish: Sea bream should smell clean and mild, with firm flesh that holds together well during poaching.
- Use a dry white wine: A crisp, dry wine keeps the broth bright and savoury; avoid sweet wines, which can make the sauce taste unbalanced.
- Ripe tomato matters: A ripe tomato breaks down quickly and gives the broth natural sweetness and body without needing a long simmer.
Common mistakes
- Boiling the fish: Once the sea bream goes in, keep the heat low. A hard boil can toughen the fish and make the broth cloudy.
- Cooking past flaking point: Remove the fish from the heat as soon as it turns opaque and flakes easily; extra time can dry out the fillets.
Ingredient swaps
- Without white wine: Use water instead of wine for a lighter broth, adding seasoning carefully so the sauce still tastes rounded.
- Change the herb: Fresh basil can replace parsley for a softer, sweeter finish that still suits the tomato-based broth.
Serving ideas
- Serve with bread: Crusty white bread is the natural pairing, giving you something to mop up the tomato, wine and olive oil broth.
- Spoon over the broth: Serve the fillets in shallow bowls or on rimmed plates so the pan juices stay with the fish.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the crusty white bread and set aside. Finely chop the fresh parsley and thinly slice the garlic. Roughly chop the tomato.
- Warm the extra virgin olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant but not coloured. Stir in the tomato and a pinch of the fine sea salt, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the tomato starts to soften and release its juices.
- Pour in the white wine and bring to a lively simmer for 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol. Nestle in the sea bream fillets skin-side up and season with the remaining fine sea salt and the black pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently poach for 6 to 8 minutes until the fish is just opaque and flakes easily.
- Uncover and spoon the pan juices over the fish, simmering for 1 to 2 minutes if you want the broth slightly more concentrated. Stir most of the fresh parsley into the broth and sprinkle the rest over the top. Serve straight away with the crusty white bread for mopping up the tomato and wine broth.
Recipe notes
Serving suggestions
This recipe pairs well with:
Tips
- Keep the heat low once the fish goes in; a gentle poach keeps the sea bream tender and stops the broth turning cloudy.
- If your fillets are thick, give them an extra 1 to 2 minutes, but take them off the heat as soon as they flake to avoid drying out.
Substitutions
- Replace white wine with water for a lighter, alcohol-free broth.
- Replace fresh parsley with fresh basil for a softer, sweeter herb note.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool, then refrigerate the fish and broth in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a frying pan over low heat just until piping hot, spooning the broth over the fish; avoid boiling to keep the sea bream delicate. Store the crusty white bread separately and toast to serve.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 servings
- Total time: 25min (20min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Italian
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Allergens:
Fish Gluten Wheat
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