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Fregola with Shrimp and Tomatoes
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This is our simplified version of the fregola with seafood and tomato sauce taught to us by chef Francesco Pinna at Trattoria Lillicu in Sardinia. Cooking the pasta in chicken broth and bottled clam juice that were first simmered with shrimp shells adds deep complexity without calling for a lengthy ingredient list. If your shrimp already are shelled, remove the tails and use those to infuse the liquid. And if you have trouble finding fregola, an equal amount of toasted pearl couscous is a good stand-in; see p. 18 for toasting instructions. You'll also need to reduce the chicken broth to only 2 cups. And after cooking the fregola for 8 to 10 minutes following the second addition of shrimp-infused broth, remove the pot from the heat before adding the shrimp.
4
Servings
Tip
Don't fully cook the shrimp when browning them. They'll be only parcooked when they come out of the pot, but will finish in the residual heat of the fregola. After adding the shrimp to the fregola, don't forget to cover the pot, as this traps heat for cooking the shrimp.
1 hour 10 minutes
1½ pounds extra-large (21/25 per pound) shrimp, peeled (shells reserved), deveined and patted dry
2 8-ounce bottles clam juice
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 bay leaves
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 medium garlic cloves, finely grated
1 cup fregola (see note)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Ingredients
-
1½
pounds extra-large (21/25 per pound) shrimp, peeled (shells reserved), deveined and patted dry
-
2
8-ounce bottles clam juice
-
3
cups low-sodium chicken broth
-
4
bay leaves
-
1
sprig fresh thyme
-
1
tablespoon black peppercorns
-
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
-
4
tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
-
1
pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
-
1
medium yellow onion, finely chopped
-
1
medium carrot, peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
-
2
medium garlic cloves, finely grated
-
1
cup fregola (see note)
-
2
tablespoons lemon juice
-
½
cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions
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01In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the shrimp shells, clam juice, chicken broth, bay, thyme and peppercorns. Microwave on high until the shrimp tails have turned pink and the mixture is very hot, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer set over another medium bowl; discard the solids in the strainer.
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02Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. In a large pot over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon of oil until barely smoking. Add half the shrimp and cook without stirring until well browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil and the remaining shrimp.
-
03Return the pot to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil. Add the tomatoes, onion, carrot and ¼ teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are spotty brown and the onion has softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
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04Add the garlic and fregola then cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 2 cups of the shrimp broth, then bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of the remaining broth, return to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the fregola is tender and the mixture is creamy but not soupy, another 6 to 8 minutes.
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05Off the heat, stir in the shrimp and accumulated juices, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the lemon juice and parsley. Cover and let stand until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 5 to 7 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
-
06Pearl couscous, sometimes called Israeli couscous, makes an acceptable substitute for Sardinian fregola, but it must be toasted. To toast, put the couscous in a dry, large pot (the same one you'll later use to cook the dish). Cook over medium, stirring often, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Even after toasting, the couscous will absorb liquid differently than fregola, so be sure to adjust the broth as directed in the recipe notes.
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Reviews
September 2, 2022
Trader joe grain
This is my second time making this dish and I use from trader joe there multi mix grain because I can not find fregola and I must say it’s delicious
July 31, 2022
Summertime stew: what a treat!
This was a lovely little stew to enjoy while watching the summer storms roll in. I made the fregola from scratch as described in the article, and it the toasted earthiness and lovely chewiness was reminiscent of pearled barley - my recommendation for who would have to special order semolina, fregola, or pearled couscous otherwise. I kept sneaking bites as it simmered, it was so yummy, but my tomatoes were very tart so I’d also recommend cooks taste before adding the lemon juice at the end. I’m off to sneak a bite from the leftovers!
I wish the recipe (and others as well) would be a bit more specific about the pot to be used. I'm often confused by what some of the terms really mean pan/pot/saute pan/straight sided pan and the best size to use.
Would like to make this for a pescatarian friend who does not eat meat. And I don’t care for clam juice. Wonder if I could amp up the flavor by sautéing shrimp shells from the shrimp, and if that might be enough flavor. Maybe add a tiny bit of wine to deglaze.
Hi Kathy -
We would recommend following the recipe using a homemade (or trusted store-bought) vegetable broth. The small amount of shrimp shells here isn't enough to really flavor water in the amount called for in the recipe (1 1/2 lbs. shrimp shells: 5 cups of water). We found we had to use broth, clam juice *and* the shrimp shells as opposed to just water to get a really flavorful dish.
Best,
The Milk Street Team
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Your First Issue
I’ve made this dish about 5 times - it is amazing. I had trouble finding fregola locally so I had to order it online, but it’s worth it. The recipe has several steps and requires attention, but there’s a payoff in the end - a superflavorful lemon-y comforting dish with perfectly cooked shrimp. One step I don’t bother with is halving the cherry tomatoes - they fall apart during the long cooking time whole or halved.