Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Scapece - An Italian Seafood Dish from Abruzzo

Scapece (of Itaian origin or from Persian sikbag; “acid food”) refers to both a dish of poached or fried fish that is marinated in an acidic mixture before serving, and to the marinade itself. The dish is common in Peruvian Cuisine and popular in both Spanish cuisine and Provençal cuisine. The dish appears as far as Asia in the Philippines with adjustments to local food staples. It is usually served cold after marinating in a refrigerator overnight (or longer). The acid in the marinade is usually vinegar but can also include citrus juice. Scapece is a popular presentation of canned or potted preserved fish, such as tuna, bonito or sardines.
The dish is also known as “escovitch” in Jamaica, “escabecio”, “escabeche” in Spain; “savoro” in Italy, “savoro” in Greece and “scabetche” in North Africa.