Assorted fried seafood known as fritto misto di pesce is hugely popular in Campania, but it is also found all over Italy. However, fritto misto is one of those dishes that differs widely across the country. Along the Italian seaside, it will always include crustaceans and mollusks, typically shrimp and squid, and often paranza, which is a collective name for very small whole fish such as fresh anchovies, sardines, baby mackerel, or mullet. Depending on the region, fritto misto is sometimes batter-fried, but the simplest method of preparing it is lightly coating the food in flour and quickly deep-frying it in hot oil until it forms a nice golden brown crust.
One of Italy's all-time favorites, linguine allo scoglio, often also dubbed linguine ai frutti di mare is a typical southern Italian seafood dish or piatto di mare. Back in the 1980s in the wider Neapolitan area, as well as along the entire southern Italian coast, there was reportedly not a single restaurant that didn't offer some version of such a timeless classic on its menu. This pasta entrée is made with either linguine or spaghetti, and a combination of seafood and shellfish, preferably coming from fresh local catch of the day. Considering seafood seasonality, what Neapolitan and any other scoglio (lit. reef; rock) has to offer varies from month to month, so there is no precise recipe for this dish, and there are countless variations in existence, but the most traditional ones always include clams, mussels, shrimps, and sometimes even calamaretti or baby squids. Pasta allo scoglio is typically flavored with white wine and garlic, and it can be prepared either in rosso or in bianco, meaning in red or white - with or without tomatoes, respectively.
Fritto misto is one of those dishes that differs widely across the country. Along the Italian seaside, it will always include crustaceans and mollusks, typically shrimp and squid, and often paranza, which is a collective name for very small whole fish such as fresh anchovies, sardines, baby mackerel, or mullet. In northern parts of the country, particularly in Piedmont, fritto misto is mostly made with vegetables and, depending on the season, includes semolina, veal brain, brochettes of cheese and prosciutto, sometimes even apples and amaretti biscuits. In the Marche region, every frittura mista includes the famous olive ascolane, green olives stuffed with finely minced meat, often accompanied by fried semolina, squash blossoms and lamb chops; while in the Neapolitan area fritto misto is prepared with no fish other than a few anchovies, crumbed fried mozzarella, and various seasonal vegetables such as cauliflower and artichokes in winter, eggplant and zucchini in summer. Moreover, the Naples-style frittura will sometimes also include sweetbreads, brains and liver with some vegetables and local specialties such as the deep-fried ravioli called panzarotti and Sicilian arancini, fried rice balls. The fritto misto alla Fiorentina contains no fish or fruit, but lambs' brains, crumbed lamb cutlets, rabbit legs, batter-dipped and deep-fried cauliflower florets, whole artichokes, zucchini batons, chicken thighs, and animelle or sweetbreads instead of the aforementioned ingredients. Also depending on the region, fritto misto is sometimes batter-fried, but the simplest method of preparing it is lightly coating the food in flour and quickly deep-frying it in hot oil until it forms a nice golden brown crust.
This Italian classic couples linguine pasta with tender lobster meat. The dish starts with a sauce that combines lobster meat and sautéed shallots, garlic, or onions, which are usually deglazed with white wine and finished off with tomatoes. The sauce is served over fresh linguine, and the whole plate is traditionally decorated with shelled lobster.
Capesante alla veneziana is a traditional dish originating from Venice. The dish is usually made with a combination of scallops, garlic, breadcrumbs, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. The scallops are cleaned and dredged in breadcrumbs. The garlic and parsley are sautéed in olive oil, and the scallops are then added to the pan and cooked until golden on both sides. The dish is drizzled with lemon juice and seasoned with salt and pepper, then served in half shells.
Quick and easy to prepare, yet packing some serious flavor, spaghetti alle vongole is a traditional Neapolitan dish consisting of only two key ingredients: vongole clams and pasta. However, there is a heated debate considering secondary ingredients, primarily the tomatoes. Purists adore the original dish, made without tomatoes, known as bianco version, while the others prefer a version with crushed tomatoes, or a version with a tomato sauce, known as spaghetti alle vongole con la salsa di pomodoro. Similar issues arise regarding the addition or omission of peperoncino and pepper in the dish. Regardless of these issues, everyone agrees that the pasta should be cooked al dente. Although the dish is best in the summer, when all of the ingredients are as fresh as they might be, it is also one of the most important meals of the traditional Neapolitan Christmas Eve dinner, known as Cena della vigilia di Natale.
This Italian classic couples rice with various seafood ingredients. Clams, shrimps, lobster meat, squid, and mussels are commonly used, while other ingredients include short-grain rice, butter, garlic, onions, white wine, parsley, and fish or vegetable stock. Since it is a popular dish throughout the country, it appears in numerous varieties that are occasionally enriched with saffron or tomato-based sauces. Like other types of risotto, this seafood classic is also traditionally enjoyed as a starter and should always be freshly prepared and served warm.
Pasta alla pescatora—literally "fisherman’s pasta"—is a classic Italian seafood dish that celebrates the bounty of the Mediterranean in a simple yet luxurious way. Originating in Italy’s coastal regions, this dish is especially popular in southern Italy, where the sea has long shaped the local cuisine. It is typically made with spaghetti or linguine and a flavorful mix of seafood such as shrimp, calamari, and mussels, all quickly sautéed in garlicky olive oil with a touch of chili pepper for heat. The sauce is built with diced tomatoes, then deglazed with a splash of white wine, infusing the dish with depth and brightness. After a brief simmer to allow the seafood to release its briny essence, the cooked pasta is added directly into the pan to soak up every drop of the savory, slightly spicy, tomato-based sauce. The final garnish of fresh parsley and black pepper adds freshness and aroma. Light yet hearty, rustic yet elegant, Pasta alla pescatora is a timeless dish that perfectly expresses the soul of Italian seaside cooking—fragrant, fast, and full of flavor.
This traditional Italian dish is usually associated with the Veneto region. It consists of salted cod that is primarily boiled in a mixture of water and milk. It is then thoroughly deboned, and finally mashed until it reaches a creamy but firm consistency. At the final stage, the fish is usually enriched with olive oil, garlic, and optionally parsley. The dish is considered to be a true delicacy that is light, packed with flavor and can vary from chunky to creamy in texture. It is usually served accompanied by grilled pieces of polenta or toasted, crispy bread.
Spaghetti alla busara is a traditional dish originating from Venice and the surrounding area. The dish is usually made with a combination of scampi (langoustines or large prawns), spaghetti, olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, parsley, white wine, salt, and pepper. The garlic is sautéed in olive oil and removed from the pan. The scampi are added to the pan, seasoned with salt and pepper, and covered with white wine. The mixture is cooked until the alcohol evaporates and the dish is completed by adding chopped tomatoes and lowering the heat until the sauce thickens. The spaghetti are cooked until al dente, sautéed briefly in the sauce, and the dish is then garnished with chopped parsley before serving. It is believed that fresh langoustines from the nearby Croatian port city of Rijeka arrived to Venice daily and that the busara (buzara) sauce inspired Venetian cooks because there is a Croatian dish called scampi buzara that's the same as this one, but without the addition of spaghetti.
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For the “Top 100 Italian Seafood Dishes” list until June 15, 2026, 2,805 ratings were recorded, of which 2,151 were recognized by the system as legitimate.
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