Home

Fregola with Shrimp, Stracciatella, and Licorice

17/11/2023

I can offer you a classic recipe for fregola with shrimp, stracciatella, and licorice. This dish is a fusion of typically Italian flavors that combines the sweet taste of shrimp with the fresh taste of stracciatella and a unique touch given by licorice.

Ingredients

  • 320g of fregola
  • 400g of cleaned shrimp
  • 200g of buffalo stracciatella
  • 2 teaspoons of licorice extract powder
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 small chili pepper
  • Chopped fresh parsley to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Fish broth to taste

Preparation

  1. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with garlic and chili pepper.
  2. Add the shrimp and sauté for a few minutes until they turn pink and are cooked.
  3. Once cooked, remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add more oil if necessary and pour in the toasted fregola. Allow it to toast for a minute.
  5. Add the fish stock little by little, as you would with a risotto, letting the fregola absorb the liquid before adding more. Continue until the fregola is cooked but still al dente.
  6. At the end of cooking, combine the shrimp with the fregola.
  7. Turn off the heat and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
  8. Add the stracciatella and licorice powder, gently stirring to mix the ingredients without breaking the shrimp or stracciatella.
  9. Serve the fregola hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

Curiosity

Fregola is a type of pasta typical of Sardinia, similar to couscous but larger, often toasted for a unique flavor and particular texture. The pairing with shrimp and stracciatella is an example of how Italian cuisine knows how to combine traditional ingredients with creative innovations.

This dish adds a touch of modernity to tradition, and the addition of licorice, an uncommon flavor in savory dishes, creates an interesting aromatic contrast. Remember to adjust the salt at the end of the preparation, according to personal taste and the saltiness of the fish broth used. Enjoy your meal!

Fregola with Shrimp, Stracciatella, and Licorice