Ep 22. Brodetto

In season 3 episode 22 of Lidia's Kitchen, titled "Brodetto," host Lidia Bastianich delves into the flavors of Italy's coastal regions as she explores the classic dish of brodetto. Brodetto, a traditional seafood soup, varies in preparation across Italy's coasts but typically includes an assortment of fish, tomato, garlic, and white wine.

Lidia starts by sharing her memories of visiting the Italian coastal town of Ancona and enjoying a bowl of brodetto at a local restaurant. She then begins to prepare her version of the soup, starting with a sauté of onions, garlic, and tomato paste. She adds white wine and a variety of seafood, including clams, mussels, shrimp, and squid. As the seafood cooks, Lidia adds fish broth and tomato puree to create a rich, flavorful base for the soup.

Throughout the episode, Lidia shares tips for selecting and preparing seafood, such as how to clean and devein shrimp and the importance of soaking clams in salted water to remove any sand. She also discusses how to adjust the recipe based on the seafood available in your region or market, emphasizing the adaptable nature of brodetto.

Lidia serves her brodetto over toasted bread and garnishes it with fresh herbs and lemon zest. She suggests pairing the soup with a crisp white wine, such as Verdicchio or Pinot Grigio, and serves a glass to enjoy alongside the meal.

In addition to preparing brodetto, Lidia also shares a recipe for a simple salad of grilled shrimp and asparagus. She coats the shrimp and asparagus in olive oil and grills them until they are charred and tender. She arranges them on a platter and dresses them with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. The dish serves as a light and refreshing complement to the rich and hearty brodetto.

Throughout the episode, Lidia's passion for cooking and sharing food shines through as she shares stories of her travels and experiences with the audience. Her cheerful and warm demeanor makes the cooking process feel approachable and enjoyable, even for less experienced home cooks.

Overall, "Brodetto" is a delightful episode of Lidia's Kitchen that showcases the diversity and complexity of Italian cuisine. Lidia's expert guidance and easy-to-follow instructions make it easy to recreate this classic seafood soup in your own kitchen and transport yourself to the shores of Italy.