South African shared table

Seafood Tomato Pasta

Mussels, prawns and calamari cook in stages through a reduced tomato and wine sauce made for a generous weekend bowl.

Prep25 min
Cook25 min
Serves6
ConfidenceComfortable Cook
Linguine in tomato seafood sauce with mussels prawns calamari and parsleySouth African
Jump to recipe ↓Metric · °C · South African kitchen
Why it works

01Reduced tomato avoids a watery seafood sauce.

02Separate timing respects each ingredient.

03Mussel liquor seasons the whole pan.

How to make Seafood Tomato Pasta

Cook it calmly.

  1. 01

    Reduce the base

    Soften garlic in olive oil, add tomato and simmer for 15 minutes until concentrated.

  2. 02

    Open the mussels

    Add wine and mussels, cover and cook until they open. Lift them out and discard any closed shells.

  3. 03

    Cook in stages

    Sear calamari briefly, then prawns, keeping each batch tender before returning it to the sauce.

  4. 04

    Toss and serve

    Finish linguine in the tomato, fold in all seafood and add parsley and olive oil.

Common mistakes

  • Adding frozen seafood straight to the sauce.
  • Keeping unopened mussels.
  • Simmering calamari until tough.
Technique

The detail that changes the dish.

Seafood is not a stew ingredient here. Cook it decisively, then get it out of the heat.

About the dish

Reduced tomato avoids a watery seafood sauce.

Mussels, prawns and calamari cook in stages through a reduced tomato and wine sauce made for a generous weekend bowl.

Separate timing respects each ingredient. Mussel liquor seasons the whole pan.

Ingredient guide

The ingredients that make Seafood Tomato Pasta work

Seafood is not a stew ingredient here. Cook it decisively, then get it out of the heat.

The pasta choice matters here. Linguine supports the sauce and the way the ingredients are cut.

Serve

At the table

Serve Seafood Tomato Pasta while its texture is at its best. Taste once more at the table before adding cheese, salt or chilli.

Store and reheat

Later, if needed

Eat on the day it is made. Refrigerate leftovers for one day and reheat once.

Freeze

Be realistic

Freeze the sauce separately only when the storage note recommends it.

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the main mistake with Seafood Tomato Pasta?+

Adding frozen seafood straight to the sauce.

Can I substitute the main ingredient?+

A frozen seafood mix is convenient but pieces vary in size. Thaw it fully and remove each type as soon as it is ready.

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