Fabulous Fish Stew Recipes

Steps:

• To make the saffron aioli, smash a clove of garlic, a tiny squeeze of lemon juice, and the saffron (if using) with a small pinch of salt in a pestle and mortar until it turns into a mush. Add a tablespoon of mayonnaise and pound again. Stir in the rest of the mayonnaise. Taste and season with a little more lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Give the mussels and clams a good wash in plenty of clean cold water and scrub any dirty ones lightly with a scrubbing brush, pulling off any beardy bits. If there are any that aren't tightly closed, give them a sharp tap. If they don't close up, throw them away.
• Heat a large, wide saucepan or stewing pot and pour in a splash of olive oil. Slice up the rest of the garlic and fry it in the oil until lightly golden. Add the wine, tomatoes and the basil stalks and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until the liquid has reduced a little.
• Add all your fish and shellfish in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Push the fish down into the liquid and put the lid on. Cook gently for about 10 minutes or until all the clams and mussels have opened and the fish fillets and langoustines or prawns are cooked through. (Discard any clams or mussels that don't open.)
• Toast the bread on a hot griddle pan and get out the serving bowls. Put a piece of toast in each bowl and ladle the soup over the top, making sure the fish is divided more or less evenly. Top each bowl with some fennel tops, basil leaves, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a big blob of saffron aioli.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan heat olive oil. Add onion and cook until tender, adding water if onions
• begin to stick. Saute garlic for 10 seconds, then add tomatoes, 3 cups liquid of choice, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, squash and corn. Cover and bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until squash and corn are tender.
• Add fish, cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until just opaque; season well with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley.
• ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR KIDS: If your kids won't eat fish, then make stew through step 1, divide it into two pots and to 1 pot add 12 ounces diced boneless chicken to the other 12 ounces diced fish for the adults; garnish adults portion with crushed red pepper.

Steps:

• Cut the fish fillets into 3-inch pieces. Season with 1 tablespoon of the rub. Set aside in the refrigerator. Make a roux by combining the oil and flour in a large cast-iron or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir slowly with a wire whisk or wooden spoon for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the roux becomes dark brown, the color of chocolate. Add the celery, onions, bell peppers, and chilies. Cook, stirring often, for 6 to 7 minutes. Add the bay leaves and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, water, and the remaining 1 teaspoon rub. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until a thin oil film appears on the surface. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking. Increase the heat to medium, add the broth, salt, and cayenne and cook for about 15 minutes. Lay the fish in the mixture and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. During the last 5 minutes of cooking time, add the green onions and parsley. Remove the bay leaves. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the fennel seeds, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook for 5 mins until starting to soften. Tip in the leeks, tomatoes and stock, season and bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 mins until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened and reduced slightly.
• Add the fish, scatter over the prawns and cook for 2 mins more until lightly cooked. Ladle into bowls and serve with a spoon.

Steps:

• Thaw fish and shrimp, if frozen.
• Rinse fish and shrimp; pat dry.
• Cut the fish into 1-inch pieces.
• Cover and chill fish pieces and shrimp until needed.
• In a large saucepan heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Cook and stir onion, carrot, sweet pepper, and garlic in hot oil until tender.
• Stir in the undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, wine or chicken broth, bay leaves, dried thyme (if using), Cajun seasoning, cumin, and if desired, crushed red pepper.
• Bring the mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Gently stir in the fish pieces, shrimp, and fresh thyme (if using).
• Cover and simmer about 5 minutes more or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and shrimp are opaque.
• Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. Whisk lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl. Add fish, toss to coat, and chill until ready to use.
• Cook polenta according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook garlic, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer garlic to a plate.
• Cook bell pepper in same skillet, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown and soften, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, cover, and cook 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add tomatoes, garlic, fish and dressing, 1 Tbsp. slivered basil, and 1 tsp. chopped oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer just until fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Discard garlic, if desired.
• Divide polenta among bowls. Arrange fish mixture over. Garnish with basil and oregano.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over medium in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven. Add onions and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, bay leaf, thyme, saffron and red pepper, and cook for 1 minute. Add wine and tomatoes, and simmer 1 minute. Add stock and bring to a slow boil over medium. Add potatoes and a good pinch of salt. Adjust heat to a brisk simmer. Cook with lid ajar until potatoes are just done, about 10 minutes. Taste broth - it should be well seasoned - and adjust as necessary. (You can do this up to an hour ahead of time.)
• As the broth simmers, add the clams, and cook for 5 minutes, covered with the lid ajar. Add cod and mussels on top, cover and cook until the mussels are done, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off heat, and let the stew steep for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mussels and clams open. Serve in wide soup bowls.

Steps:

• Place the garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle, and mash to a paste. Add the anchovy fillets and mash with the garlic. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, and add the onion, celery and carrot with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender, about five minutes. Add the pureed garlic and anchovy. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is very fragrant, about one minute, and then add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down a bit and the mixture smells aromatic, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the water, potatoes, salt (to taste) and the bouquet garni. Bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover partially and simmer 30 minutes. Taste, adjust salt and add pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Season the fish with salt and pepper, and stir into the soup. The soup should not be boiling. Simmer five to 10 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fillets) or just until it flakes easily when poked. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley, taste once more, adjust seasonings and serve.