March 21, 2025

Traditional dish: Acqua Pazza fish

The hosts of the beautiful Il Cannito, an agriturismo in Campania, conjure up a delicious and traditional dish from their region! The name "Pezzogna" (red sea bream) or "Saurus" refers to a specific type of fish often prepared in this region. This cooking style, which involves cooking the fish in a pan with fresh ingredients without prior searing, preserves the flavors of the ingredients and leaves the fish tender and succulent, hence the name "Acqua Pazza."

Traditional dish of the Campania region: Acqua Pazza fish

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, peeled (without the green part)

2 small pieces of a chili pepper

1 whole fish (approx. 250-300 g, e.g. Pezzogna or Saurus)

10 fresh cherry tomatoes

5 capers from Pantelleria

3 black olives

basil

A pinch of coarse salt

olive oil

Fresh water (up to the belly of the fish)

Preparation:

Preparation of ingredients:
- Peel the garlic and cut the chili pepper into small pieces and then place it in the pan.
- Quarter the cherry tomatoes and add them to the pan.
- Add the capers and olives.
- Roughly pluck fresh basil and add it to the pan.
- Add a pinch of coarse salt.
Preparing fish:
- Pour some olive oil on the bottom of the pan.
- Place the fish in the pan.
- Add fresh water so that it covers the fish up to its belly.
Cooking:
- Cover the pan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Cook the fish for about 10-12 minutes (adjust the cooking time accordingly for larger fish).
Serve:
- Arrange the fish with the sauce made from the fresh ingredients and serve.

This traditional approach from Campania shows how the region creates a wonderfully aromatic dish with few, but fresh and high-quality ingredients. By cooking the fish in the pan with the tomatoes, olives, capers and garlic, the fish is enveloped in the intense aromas while retaining its own tenderness and freshness. This makes the dish not only delicious, but also very natural and authentic. The combination of simple ingredients and gentle preparation ensures that the fish shows its best quality.