Fennel And Potato Bisque With Crumbed Salt Cod And Green Olives Recipes

Steps:

• Trim the tops and bottoms from the fennel bulbs, reserving a handful of the fronds for garnish. Quarter the bulbs. Set each quarter on its side and slice off most of the core. Cut the quarters into wedges about 1-inch thick (don't worry if some pieces fall off the wedge-use those too).
• Put 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Place over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add the fennel and cook without stirring until fennel is brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Stir and let the fennel continue to cook until some more pieces brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of pepper. Lower the heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cod with salt and pepper and place on top of the fennel. Cover the pan again and simmer, adding more liquid occasionally if the pan is dry, until the fennel is very tender and the cod is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop the reserved fennel fronds (you should have about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons) and remove the zest from the lemon. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until the breadcrumbs brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper, and allow to cool. Mix the fennel fronds and lemon zest into the breadcrumbs until combined.
• Juice the lemon. Roughly chop the olives.
• When the cod and fennel are done, stir in the lemon juice and the olives. Remove from the heat and let stand for about 1 minute to warm the olives. Transfer the fennel and cod to serving bowls and top the fish with the toasted breadcrumbs. Pour any remaining pan juices over the fennel.

Steps:

• Toss 1 pound halved fingerling potatoes with 1 sliced fennel bulb, 1 sliced white onion, 6 sliced garlic cloves, 8 sage leaves, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast at 425 degrees F until golden and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway through. Season with salt and drizzle with olive oil.

Steps:

• In a large bowl cover salt cod with cold water by 2 inches. Chill cod, changing water several times, at least 1 day and up to 2.
• In a colander drain salt cod and in a saucepan simmer in water to cover by 1 inch until cod just flakes, about 3 minutes. Drain cod in colander and cool. Flake cod.
• Peel potatoes and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes. In a saucepan simmer potatoes in salted water to cover by 1 inch until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes in colander and force through a ricer or food mill fitted with medium disk into a bowl. In a small bowl whisk together egg and milk and add to potatoes, stirring until combined well.
• In a 9-inch skillet cook fennel bulb, fennel seeds, and salt to taste in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until fennel is pale golden. Cover skillet and cook fennel mixture, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes more. Add cod and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water and deglaze skillet, scraping up brown bits.
• Stir cod mixture and reserved fennel fronds into potato mixture until combined well and season with salt and pepper. Filling may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• In a large flat-bottomed dish soak lasagne sheets in very hot water to cover until soft and pliable, about 15 minutes.
• Remove 1 lasagne sheet from water and halve crosswise to form 2 squares. Spread a scant 1/4 cup filling lengthwise along 1 edge of each square and roll each square to enclose filling, leaving ends open. Arrange both cannelloni, seam sides down, in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish, 15 by 10 by 2 inches, or other shallow baking dish. make 18 more cannelloni with remaining 9 lasagne sheets (halved crosswise) and filling in same manner.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a small heavy saucepan bring milk just to a simmer over moderately low heat. Remove pan from heat and keep warm, covered. In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes and whisk in warm milk. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking, and simmer, whisking, 3 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper and pour evenly over cannelloni. Cannelloni may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Bake cannelloni in upper third of oven 30 minutes, or until bubbling and lightly browned.

Steps:

• Neatly trim the cod fillets. Score the skin of each fillet 3-4 times at regular intervals. Lay the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides of the fillets with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Set aside or chill overnight, see box, far right.
• Deseed and finely slice the peppers, then finely grate the garlic and lemon zest over the peppers. Carefully slice the fennel on a mandolin, or as finely as possible with a sharp knife, then tip half the fennel into a bowl of iced water and set aside.
• Brush the salt off the fish or, if it has dissolved, wipe the brine off with kitchen paper. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large non-stick pan, cook the fish, skin side down, for 4 mins until the skin is crisp and browned, then remove from the pan.
• Put 1 tbsp more oil into the pan. Fry the fennel and the marinated peppers together for 4-5 mins until soft and starting to brown. Throw in the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, then continue to cook for 2-3 mins until they soften and release their juices. Scatter over the olives, capers and herbs, then toss everything together.
• Nestle the fish fillets, skin side up, among the vegetables, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 mins until the fish is just cooked through. Lift the fish from the pan and give the sauce a final simmer and stir, then turn off the heat. This dish is better served warm rather than hot, so don't worry about the vegetables or fish resting before you serve.
• Drain the reserved fennel and pat dry with kitchen paper. Toss with the juice from half the grated lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil and the anchovies. To serve, spoon the vegetables into the middle of two large dinner plates. Sit the cod, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and top with a neat bundle of fennel salad. Drizzle everything with a touch more oil, then scatter with the small basil leaves.

Steps:

• Rinse salt cod well and rub off any salt. Soak in 2 quarts cold water. Drain and change water every few hours (an overnight soak without changing is fine). Total soaking time should be at least 8 hours.
• In a medium saucepan, heat milk plus 1 cup water over medium-high heat. Add soaked salt cod, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, allspice berries and clove. Adjust heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook until fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes. Remove fish and hold at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, in another pot, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Add garlic cloves and a good pinch of salt. Drain potatoes when they are soft, about 15 minutes, reserving cooking liquid and garlic.
• Put cooked garlic cloves in a small saucepan and crush with a fork. Add olive oil and heat over a medium flame until quite warm to the touch. Set aside.
• Put potatoes in a large mixing bowl. With your fingers, flake cooked salt cod on top. With a potato masher, roughly blend potatoes and fish. Drizzle in warm garlic oil and mash again. Add cayenne, nutmeg to taste and lemon zest. Stir in ½ cup crème fraîche and beat well to combine. Beat in about ½ cup cooking liquid to lighten mixture so it has the texture of soft mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning - it will probably need salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a low-sided 1-quart baking dish or pie pan. Transfer brandade mixture to dish and smooth with a spatula. Paint the top with 2 tablespoons crème fraîche, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Dot top with remaining butter. (May be prepared up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before baking.) Bake until golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Wash leeks well in a bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well.
• Cook onions, leeks, fennel, and garlic in butter in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 15 minutes. Add wine and boil, uncovered, until evaporated, about 1 minute. Add stock, water, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and liquid is reduced to about 6 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), then transfer to a soup tureen and stir in Pernod.

Steps:

• Boil potatoes until tender, about 8 mins.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Halve and quarter the fennel through the root, then trim off the hard core. Slice the fennel and tip into a roasting tin with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss the fennel in the oil until it is glistening. Roast for 20-25 mins, until starting to soften.
• Add tomatoes, olives and potatoes and stir well. Return to the oven for 10-15 mins until the fennel is tender, with a bit of crunch. Tip into a warm dish to serve.

Steps:

• In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently until onion is soft, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste; stirring to combine. Add fennel, potatoes, chicken broth or water, and orange zest; season with salt and pepper; stirring to combine. Cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Season fish with salt and pepper. Place on top of vegetables in skillet; reduce heat. Cover; simmer until fish is opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with chopped reserved fennel fronds.

Steps:

• In a 12-inch skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, about 7 minutes.
• Add the chopped fennel; cook, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, and orange zest; season with salt. Boil for 10 minutes.
• Place the cod fillets on top; reduce the heat. Cover; simmer until the fish is opaque throughout, about 10 minutes. Serve with the chopped reserved fennel fronds.

Steps:

• Combine mussels and wine in large pot. Cover; bring to boil. Boil until mussels open, about 5 minutes (discard any that do not open). Using tongs, transfer to large bowl. Pour cooking liquid through strainer set over 8-cup measuring cup. Add enough clam juice to cooking liquid to measure 5 cups. Remove mussels from shells; place in small bowl. Discard shells. Cover mussels and chill until ready to use, up to 8 hours. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 1/2 cups fennel cubes and carrot; sauté until fennel is slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Add shallots; sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Add clam juice mixture, rice, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; partially cover and simmer until rice is tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Cool slightly. Working in batches, puree in blender. Return to saucepan.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup fennel cubes; sauté until crisptender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. do ahead Bisque mixture and sautéed fennel can be made 8 hours ahead. Cool slightly. Chill bisque mixture uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Cover and chill fennel. Bring bisque mixture to simmer before continuing.
• Add whipping cream, brandy, and mussels to bisque mixture; bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle bisque into 6 bowls. Sprinkle sautéed fennel cubes atop bisque. Garnish with chopped fennel fronds and parsley, if desired.
• What to drink:
• Try a crisp white wine with the bisque. We like the very affordable Snoqualmie 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($8) from Washington State.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut fennel bulbs crosswise into 1/16-inch-thick slices with slicer. Peel potatoes and cut crosswise into 1/16-inch-thick slices with slicer.
• Transfer fennel and potatoes to baking dish and toss with garlic, salt, pepper, and 4 tablespoons oil. Spread vegetables evenly in dish and bake, covered with foil, in middle of oven until just tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Season fish with salt and pepper and arrange on top of vegetables. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bake, uncovered, until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Available at Asian markets, many cookware shops, and Uwajimaya (800-889-1928).

Steps:

• Place the fennel, potatoes and chicken broth in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Place in a food processor with the roasted garlic and process until smooth. Return to the saucepan and season with the salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm over low heat.
• Shred the salt cod with a knife. Place in a bowl and toss with the bread crumbs. Heat the olive oil in a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the cod and saute until the crumbs are browned, about 5 minutes. Divide the soup among 4 bowls and top with the salt cod and olives. Serve immediately.