Artichoke And Mussel Bisque Recipes

ARTICHOKE AND MUSSEL BISQUE

Steps:

• Remove the hearts and stems from the artichokes and discard the leaves. Chop the hearts and stems and place them in a large pot over low heat with the fennel and onion. Add the cream, just enough water to cover all, and salt and pepper to taste. Let this simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Meanwhile, rinse and de-beard the mussels. In a separate large saucepan over medium low heat, sweat the garlic in the butter or margarine for 30 seconds. Add the cleaned mussels and the wine, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the mussels and reserve the liquid. (Note: Be careful not to brown the garlic.)
• Transfer the vegetable mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Add the lemon juice, reserved mussel liquid and season with salt and pepper to taste. Strain this mixture through a fine mesh strainer and top each serving with some mussels. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

ARTICHOKE BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill.
• Coat the tomatoes, bell peppers and artichoke hearts lightly with oil, place on grill just away from the hottest spot. Turn occasionally with tongs to sear all surfaces. Remove to a dish to let cool. Reserve any juices that accumulate.
• In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic with butter over medium heat, stirring. In a food processor, small chop the grilled vegetables. In saucepan with onion/garlic mixture, add vegetable stock, cream, grilled vegetables, and cilantro. Bring to simmer, stir to heat evenly. Combine cornstarch and water in a small separate bowl. Slowly add to saucepan while stirring to combine. The sauce will thicken slightly in 1 to 2 minutes to desired consistency. Add more cornstarch or water if necessary.
• Add salt, dash with pepper, to taste. Serve with suggested garnishes, if desired.

FRENCH MUSSEL BISQUE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups water and 1 cup of the wine to a boil in a large, shallow pot. Add the mussels, cover the pot, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the mussels open. When the mussels are cool enough to handle, separate the mussels from the shells and set aside, discarding the shells and any mussels that didn't open. Strain the cooking liquid through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl and reserve.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in another large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions, leek, carrots, garlic, saffron, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute.
• Add 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid (discard the rest) and the rest of the wine, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the reserved mussels, the half-and-half, and the cream. Heat until just heated through but not boiling. Stir in the parsley or dill, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Serve hot.

OYSTER & ARTICHOKE BISQUE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a sauce pot.
• Add the onion, celery, and garlic; saute for 5 minutes or until tender.
• Whisk in the flour and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add the milk and heat until thickened.
• Stir in the half and half and seasonings.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat, add the oysters and artichokes.
• Simmer for 5 minutes, then add the sherry.

ARTICHOKE AND MUSSEL BISQUE

Steps:

• Remove the hearts and stems from the artichokes and discard the leaves. Chop the hearts and stems and place them in a large pot over low heat with the fennel and onion. Add the cream, just enough water to cover all, and salt and pepper to taste. Let this simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Meanwhile, rinse and de-beard the mussels. In a separate large saucepan over medium low heat, sweat the garlic in the butter or margarine for 30 seconds. Add the cleaned mussels and the wine, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the mussels and reserve the liquid. (Note: Be careful not to brown the garlic.)
• Transfer the vegetable mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Add the lemon juice, reserved mussel liquid and season with salt and pepper to taste. Strain this mixture through a fine mesh strainer and top each serving with some mussels. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

MUSSELS AND BABY ARTICHOKES BARIGOULE

Steps:

• Neatly pare the base and stem of the artichokes, then cut off the tip. Rub with the lemon and place in acidulated ice water.
• In a heavy Dutch oven, cook the pancetta in the olive oil over moderate heat until brown and very crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon and reserve. Remove all but 1 teaspoon of the rendered fat from the pan and add the shallots and garlic. Cook for five minutes, stirring and picking up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until golden brown.
• Add the carrots, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper to the Dutch oven and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the wine and stock and stir until it boils. Place the artichokes on the bed of vegetables, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the mussels to the Dutch oven 5 to 10 minutes before the artichokes are tender and cook until they have opened. Remove any opened mussels into a large serving bowl or deep platter and cover with foil. Continue cooking the others until they open, about 5 minutes longer. Discard any unopened mussels.
• If the liquid has evaporated, add 1/2 cup additional stock. Turn up the heat and reduce the liquid just to thicken slightly and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley and reserved pancetta. Place the artichokes and any remaining opened mussels in the serving bowl, spoon the vegetables on top, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, and serve.

ARTICHOKE TOMATO BISQUE

Steps:

• In a blender, cover and process tomatoes and peppers until pureed. In a large saucepan, saute the onion, garlic, thyme, basil and oregano in butter and olive oil until onion is tender., Add the broths, artichokes, cream, milk, sherry, cilantro and tomato mixture. Bring to a simmer; cook for 10-12 minutes. , In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually add to saucepan. Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until thickened; add Creole seasoning and pepper.

ARTICHOKE STEW WITH MUSSELS, POTATOES AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Squeeze juice from 2 lemon halves into large bowl; add lemon halves. Fill bowl with water. Cut stem off 1 artichoke. Starting at base, bend leaves back and snap off where they break naturally; continue until all tough outer leaves have been removed, leaving cone of tender pale green leaves. Using small sharp knife, trim outside edge of base until smooth and no dark green areas remain. Rub trimmed edge with 1 of remaining lemon halves. Cut artichoke lengthwise into quarters. Rub cut sides of quarters with lemon. Using small knife, cut out choke and small purple-tipped leaves from 1 quarter. Rub cut areas with lemon. Trim top leaves, leaving artichoke quarter about 2 inches long. Cut quarter into 2 wedges. Place wedges into lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Bring remaining ingredients to boil in heavy large pot (do not use aluminum or cast iron). Drain artichokes; add to pot. Return to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until artichokes are tender, about 20 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer artichokes to medium bowl. Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid in small bowl.
• Place potatoes, salt, bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds and celery seeds in large saucepan. Pour in enough cold water to cover potatoes generously. Boil until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Cool 15 minutes; peel.
• Stir saffron in heavy large in heavy large pot over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add reserved 1 cup cooking liquid; bring to simmer. Add artichokes, potatoes, mussels, shallots, butter and 3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds. Bring to boil. Cover pot; cook until mussels open and potatoes are golden, about 8 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Mix in green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide stew among 6 shallow soup bowls. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

MUSSEL AND FENNEL BISQUE

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.

ARTICHOKE BISQUE

Steps:

• Saute onions in butter, over medium heat, for about 10 minutes, or until onions are soft.
• Add vermouth, artichokes, broth and thyme and simmer until the artichokes fall apart, about 10 minutes or so.
• Stir in cream and bleu cheese and simmer until melted.
• Carefully puree in a blender, or whir with your stick blender (if you do not own a stick blender, run, I said RUN out and get one! You will love it).
• Garnish with chives.