Last Updated on May 20, 2020 by Chef Mireille
Pesce Fra Diavolo – Instant Fra Diavolo Sauce is quick and easy, allowing you get dinner on the table in an hour!
Fra Diavolo, translated from Italian means Devil’s Monk. I have known about Fra Diavolo for a long time as it is a popular and common option at Italian restaurants here in NYC. It is a spicy Italian sauce…or what I thought was an Italian sauce. As in all my posts, you know I always try to find the history behind the dish and upon doing the research, I discovered that this sauce might not be Italian at all, but instead a purely American invention. There is some discrepancy whether or not this dish is actually Italian.
Although a few claim the dish has its origins in Naples, most Italian chefs agree that this is a purely American creation, most likely created in NYC’s Little Italy. However, the dish has a long history, with some restaurants having this dish on the menu as far back as the 1940’s. Whether it came from Naples or Little Italy, the taste is just as delicious! It is most often served with either lobster or shrimp and served with linguine. However, I did my own twist on the classic dish by serving it with fish and polenta instead. Check out how to make the polenta here!
This isn’t the first time I’ve made Fra Diavolo. Here I served it with an Italian Herbed Chicken.
Using canned tomatoes, this is an instant easy shmeezy version of Fra Diavolo. Spice is subjective, so you can add more or less chili peppers as to your preference.
Are you an Italian food lover? Really who isn’t right! Check out some of my other Italian and Italian American dishes!
Italian Recipes
IN THE MAKING
We all know fish is brain food – this is a quick and easy way to get a delicious fish dinner on the table in under an hour!
Pesce Fra Diavolo – Instant Fra Diavolo Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup dried red chiles broken
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 18 oz. mahi mahi fish fillets or other white fish
Instructions
- In a food processor, chop garlic and chile peppers.
- Transfer to a pot.
- Add tomatoes and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In an oven safe dish, place fish and 1 cup of the sauce. Refrigerate or freeze extra sauce for later use.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until fish is cooked through.
- Serve with creamy polenta!
Nutrition
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#78
That is such a simple 3 ingredient sauce — sounds spicy and delicious. What do you think would be a good vegetarian substitute for the fish?
Roasted mushrooms would be a great veg sub I think!
I first came across this sauce in a restaurant chain ‘Piada’. Though I haven’t tasted the sauce, I thought the spicy version sounds yumm..
yes – you can definitely try it at home with a vegetarian protein
I saw your answer on the substitute – mushrooms ! A spicy sauce is always my choice , and your sauce has a vibrant colour besides being spicy , though the fish has to be substituted .
Sauce sounds spicy and you know, I love such sauces!
yep but with you, you might even find it too mild – but you can just add more chili 🙂
wow this sounds very easy with only three ingredients , I would love to try it some vegetable substitute 🙂 loving the fiery feel of it..
yes – the spicy sauce will go good with anything – from mushrooms to even paneer
Another interesting sauce Mir, and must have been so good as part of a meal as well right!
Definitely – the whole meat was enjoyed
That is an amazing sauce and with only three ingredients. I love the idea of using mushrooms for veg options.
yes mushrooms easily turn this into a vegetarian meal
The bright red sauce is so tempting.. A must try recipe..
thanks – the canned tomatoes make sure you get the bright vibrant color
This sauce looks so tempting and so easy to make…must try….
yes with this easy sauce, dinner is a snap!
Such an interesting sauce Mir, never had a chance to taste this fish in tomato creamy sauce. Completely a new sauce for me. Even i will go with vegetarian version with mushrooms, thank u for sharing this sauce.
yes – it’s such a delicious sauce and so easy with canned tomatoes
Usually sauces have such a long list of ingredients. This is one quick, 3 ingredients’ recipe for fish lovers.
yep – easy shmeezy in just 15 minutes
Sauce sounds spicy and interesting. Good one
thanks yes and so simple to put together
Looks great. Is there a way we can make this in veg?
Yes, Using the sauce with roasted mushrooms would be the best vegetarian alternative
Looks like a really easy sauce to make with just three ingredients. I am looking for new fish recipes ass I have started including it in my diet. Let me try this version next time I make.
this is a quick and easy recipe and you can easily add more spices if you want to indianize it a bit more!
Very interesting sauce with dried fish that too… we make it with coconut for our dosas, reminds me of them…
no it is made with fresh frish
hi
the sauce looks nice and recipe looks easy to make
can try with addition of vegetables
best wishes
sure it will go well with veggies also