Fish In Crazy Water is a classic Neapolitan dish of fresh fish poached with vegetables and water. A wonderfully simple, healthy and delicious recipe that yields tender fish and vegetables in sweet flavorful broth.
In Italy they call it Pesce All'Acqua Pazza. I discovered this amazing Neapolitan poached fish dish while traveling in southern Italy. It has since become a regular favorite in our weeknight dinner rotation.
I promised I would share some of the great recipes I learned on my Italian cooking vacation, so here we go!
HOW TO COOK FISH IN CRAZY WATER
- The recipe for fish in crazy water is stunningly simple. The beauty of this dish is in the delicate sweet and savory flavors of the fresh ingredients.
- Use the best ripe cherry tomatoes you can find to flavor the broth.
- Use white fish fillets - your favorite or whatever is fresh. I've had great success with snapper, halibut and sea bass. I've listed a few other types of fish that will work well in this recipe.
- The only other ingredients you'll need is olive oil, garlic, carrots, celery, onions, parsley and, of course, water. I like cutting the carrots and celery into matchsticks but chopping them is fine, too. Whatever suits you.
Everything cooks in one pot. I like to use my large cast iron skillet.
First sauté the garlic, carrots, celery and onions in a little olive oil, to soften them.
Tuck the fish fillets down into the veggies and add the water.
Cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes or so, to gently poach the fish and vegetables and to infuse the water with all the wonderful flavors of the fish and vegetables.
Take off the lid and dinner is ready!
I love the freshness and simplicity of this dish, tender fish and vegetables in a sweet fresh broth.
If you're like me, you'll be dazzled by the simplicity and deliciousness of this wonderful recipe.
And it's so healthy!
Be sure to follow Panning The Globe on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for daily cooking inspiration.
Here's the recipe for Fish In Crazy Water. If you try this recipe I hope you'll come back to leave a rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think.
PrintRecipe
Fish In Crazy Water
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Quick, easy, healthy recipe for fish poached with fresh vegetables and tomatoes.
Ingredients
- For this recipe you'll need a large skillet with a lid
- 1 ½ pounds fresh fish fillets, such as snapper, sea bass, Branzino or Orata, cut into 4 portions.
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, slightly smashed and peeled (see how to smash garlic here)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 3 celery stalks, washed, ends trimmed, cut into matchsticks or chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 2 or 3 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks or chopped (1 ½ cups
- 1 pint of ripe cherry tomatoes, washed and cut into quarters (10-11 ounces)
- ¼ cup chopped parsley leaves
- 1 ½ cups water
- Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat for a minute or so, until the garlic starts to sizzle a bit. Add the carrots, celery and onions. Sauté, stirring, for 2 minutes or so, until the vegetables start to soften (regulate the heat so they don't brown)
- Add the cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring, for a minute or so, to heat the tomatoes. Add the fish, tucking it down into the vegetables. Add ¼ teaspoon salt and 1 ½ cups water. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Cover and cook over medium low heat (gentle simmer) for 10 minutes or until the fish is just cooked through and the vegetables are softened. Stir in half the parsley.
- Divide fish, veggies and broth among 4 shallow bowls. Season with black pepper, to taste. Serve right away, while hot, with additional chopped parsley sprinkled on top.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Lunch or Dinner
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Italian
Kelly
Could you substitute water for vegetable broth or chicken broth for more flavor?
Lisa Goldfinger
Hey Kelly - sure you can. But if you try it with water, you might be surprised by the lovely flavors. That's the whole idea of this dish: "crazy water," and it really is crazy how good it is. I find that store-brought broth doesn't add much flavor to dishes other than saltiness. Whatever you end up doing, I hope you enjoy this dish!
David
Yum! Made this last night with Striped Bass (and a small side of Linguini Aglio Olio which was not 100% necessary). The dish was amazing. It's always surprising to me when a very simple dish with few ingredients (and that is so easy to make) can be so good.
Nancy J.
My sister turn me on to this fish. She makes it with snapper and I am addicted!! I am making it tomorrow for a birthday dinner. It's incredible!!
Lisa
I'm so glad to hear it Nancy! Hope the Birthday dinner is fabulous!!
Dominique Ranieri
So easy and SO good.
Alex G
This is a seriously good recipe!
nina mayer
Loved it!! Made it tonight--delicious and very easy.
Lisa
I'm so glad you enjoyed Nina!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Dear Lisa, What a beautiful one skillet meal! Love the colors and simplicity. I didn't grow up eating fish as my mom never cared for seafood, but I think even I could make this! Thanks for the inspiration!
Carol at Wild Goose Mama
Wow this looks delicious. The colors are glorious!! And such a guilt free meal. What treat to look forward with lusty relish to a dish without feeling guilty. I could get use to that!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
That's the funniest recipe name and when I saw it, I had to know more. It sounds so easy and something the whole family would enjoy.
Rachel (Rachel's Kitchen NZ)
Oh, love Fish in Crazy Water - love your version with all those veg - Liz - roll on tomato season.
jen
I'm making this TONIGHT! Thank you!
Allison
I don't cook a lot of fish, but this looks easy enough! Gorgeous photos!