French Country Fish Mussel Stew Recipes

FRENCH COUNTRY FISH & MUSSEL STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan with a lid. Add the bacon or turkey rashers and stir-fry over a high heat for 1 min. Pour in the stock, then stir in the saffron, carrot, celery and leeks. Cover and cook for 10 mins over a medium heat.
• Add the tomatoes and beans to the pan, and cook for 10 mins more until the veg is tender. The consistency will be quite brothy, so if you fancy a thicker texture, use a hand blender and purée a little soup in the pan to thicken it.
• Stir in the fish and mussels, cover and cook for 5 mins more until the fish is just cooked and the mussels open. There will be too many shells, so take some of the mussels out of them. Stir through the parsley, then ladle into soup plates.

SHELLFISH STEW PROVENçALE

Steps:

• Clean the hard-shelled clams:
• Scrub the clams thoroughly with a stiff brush under cold water, discarding any that have cracked shells or that are not shut tightly.
• Make the stew:
• In a kettle cook the onion, the fennel, and the bell pepper in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened. Stir in the zest, the minced thyme, the bay leaf, the cayenne, and the saffron, cook the mixture, stirring, for 30 seconds, and add the wine, the stock, the tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the mixture, uncovered, for 15 minutes, add the garlic, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. The stew may be prepared up to this point 2 days in advance, cooled, uncovered, and kept covered and chilled. Stir in the shrimp and the clams and simmer the mixture, covered, for 5 minutes. Add the crab legs and the scallops, simmer the stew, covered, for 3 minutes, or until the scallops are just cooked through and the clams are opened, and discard the bay leaf and any unopened clams. Divide the stew among 8 heated bowls and garnish it with the thyme sprigs.
• Make the stock:
• In a well-buttered heavy saucepan combine the fish bones and trimmings, the onion, the parsley, the lemon juice, and the salt and steam the mixture, covered, over moderately high heat for 5 minutes. Add the water and the wine, bring the liquid to a boil, skimming the froth, and simmer the stock for 20 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine sieve into a bowl, let it cool to warm, and chill it, covered. The stock keeps, covered and chilled, for 1 week if it is brought to a boil every 2 days and then allowed to cool to warm, uncovered, before being chilled again. The stock keeps, frozen, for 3 months. Makes about 6 cups.

FRENCH COUNTRY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat oil in 8 quart pot and cook garlic and onion until browned, about 5 minutes Add tomatoes, parsley and pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and cook another 2 minutes.
• Add mussels, toss well, cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally Serve in a bowl with crusty french bread to soak up the juices.