Mendocino Fish Stew Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Warm the olive oil in a heavy casserole or saucepan. Add the onions and cook over low heat until soft, about 10 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and cook 5 minutes more.
• Add the white wine, lemon rind and saffron. Increase heat to medium and simmer 10 to 15 minutes, until the wine reduces to 1/4 cup. In another pot, boil potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, set aside until cool and quarter.
• Add the tomato puree, peppers, olives and oregano to the wine mixture. Simmer 5 minutes more. Remove the lemon rind, season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the cod, cover and simmer gently until fish is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Divide the potatoes among 4 bowls. Ladle fish stew over potatoes, garnish with basil and serve immediately.

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:

• To make the garlic toasts, drizzle the bread with oil, then griddle or grill until golden all over. While the toasts are still hot, rub them with garlic and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a wide, deep frying pan. Add the onion and cook over a gentle heat for 5 mins until softened. Stir through the garlic and chilli and cook a couple of mins more. Add the tomato purée and tomatoes. Turn up the heat and cook for 10-15 mins, stirring until the tomatoes are pulpy. Pour over the wine and cook for 10 mins more until most of it has boiled away.
• Add the fish stock and orange zest and heat until gently simmering. Nestle the halibut chunks into the liquid and cook for 5 mins. Add the clams and prawns and cook for 5 mins more until the fish is cooked through and the clams have opened (discard any that haven't). Sprinkle the parsley over the stew and serve with the garlic toasts.

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:

• Marinate the fish: Cut fish into 2-inch chunks and place in a medium bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add half the chopped thyme, 1 tablespoon olive oil and the lemon slices. Toss to coat and set aside for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 8 hours).
• Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, stirring, 5 or 6 minutes.
• Add reserved thyme, minced garlic, saffron, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, bay leaf and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more. Add wine, tomatoes and stock or water and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust; the broth should be well seasoned. (This seasoned base may be prepared up to 1 day in advance, if desired.)
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange fish, clams and lemon slices in the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch baking dish or a wide earthenware casserole of similar size. Ladle the broth over everything, cover and bake for 20 minutes, or until clams have opened and fish flakes easily.
• Toast the bread and rub each slice with garlic. Sprinkle parsley over the soup. Serve in low soup bowls, giving each guest some fish, clams, broth and garlic toast.