Poached Fish With Saffron Vermicelli Recipes

SAFFRON FISH WITH RED PEPPERS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl and sprinkle with the saffron strands. Use a spoon to press the saffron strands against the side of the bowl to release the flavor. Cover the bowl with a plate and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over low. Add the bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cilantro stems, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is transparent.
• Nestle the fish into the vegetables, sprinkle with the paprika, red-pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the prepared saffron water over everything. (You can do all of this in advance 1 day in advance, and refrigerate until ready to finish.)
• When ready to cook, add the olives and preserved lemon (if using - but if using fresh lemon, that will come in Step 5). Bring the mixture to a boil over high, reduce to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, basting the fish every 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Taste for seasoning and serve, setting the fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, if not using the preserved lemon. Serve warm or at room temperature.

POACHED FISH

Steps:

• In a a large skillet (fitted with a lid) pour in 1 inch (25mm) of water, add all ingredients except fish& bring to a boil.
• Place fish (skin side down if the filet has skin on it) in a single layer, cover and simmer until the fish flakes easily apprx 5 minutes.
• Serve.

PRAWN-STUFFED SPICY FISH WITH VERMICELLI

Steps:

• Serving suggestion: Crisp, dressed green salad.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F/200 degrees C/gas 6. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the vermicelli, and cook for slightly less time than it says on the packet. You want it to be al dente. Once ready, drain, rinse in coldwater and leave to cool. Put it into a large bowl and grate in your courgettes (zucchini). Add the chopped tomatoes, coriander (cilantro), preserved lemon, 1 teaspoon harissa, sweet paprika, ground ginger, and cumin. Mix it all together really well with your clean hands, then have a taste, add a pinch of salt and pepper if needed, and put aside. Place the fish on a large chopping board and score the skin every 3/4-inch/2 cm on both sides at a slight angle, using a sharp knife. Sprinkle over a little salt, a small pinch of cumin, and a pinch each of sweet paprika and ground ginger. Mix the remaining 1 teaspoon harissa with 1 teaspoon olive oil and rub 1/2 of it into the fish, making sure it gets into the cuts you've made. Turn the fish over and repeat on the other side. Spoon 2/3 of the vermicelli filling into a large baking tray or earthenware-type dish, making a bed for the fish; gently place the fish on top. Stir your prawns into the rest of the vermicelli filling and spoon this into the cavity of the fish, pushing it right in-don't worry if it spills out a little. Drizzle over a little olive oil, and roast in the hot oven for around 25 minutes, until the fish is crisp on the outside and cooked through. To serve, pull the meat off and pick the bones out. Add a spoonful of the vermicelli filling on the side of each plate and serve with a crisp, dressed green salad.

SAFFRON POACHED SHRIMP WITH SHAVED FENNEL AND CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Remove the heads and shells from the shrimp, keeping the tails intact, and reserve. Devein the shrimp and set aside on ice.
• For poaching liquid: steep the saffron in the white wine. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until oil slides easily across the pan, add the reserved shrimp heads and shells and cook until they turn an orange-red color. Add the fennel, onion, carrot and gently brown, about 2 minutes. Using a cheese grater, gently grate the tomato into the broth and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Add the white wine and saffron mixture, water, whole tarragon, and whole basil. Bring to a boil and reduce to a gentle simmer for 45 minutes, skimming frequently. Strain and set aside.
• For the skewers: place shrimp on a skewer, piercing through the tail and body, about 3 per skewer. Season with kosher salt.
• Return the poaching liquid to the stove and heat to a gentle simmer. Add the shrimp skewers to the liquid and cook, until the shrimp are firm and just cooked through, being careful not to over cook, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Serve on top of Shaved Fennel with Citrus Vinaigrette and garnish with fennel fronds.
• Carefully arrange fennel, avocado, and grapefruit on a plate and dress with the Citrus Vinaigrette.
• In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic, honey, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, and salt. Gradually pour the olive oil and canola oil into the mixture while whisking. Set aside.

POACHED SALMON SWIMMING ON FENNEL WITH SAFFRON AND CLAMS

Steps:

• Saute Fennel and Garlic in olive oil for 8-10 minutes till tender and lightly golden.
• Add saffron and toss to release the beautiful yellow color and aroma.
• Add clam juice, wine, and clam juice for can clam sauce bring to simmer.
• Place fillet on top of fennel mixture and spoon some of the mixture on top and cover pan.
• Simmer low heat a barely simmer for 10 minutes. Less time if very thin fillets.
• Add white clam sauce heat 2 minutes.
• Adjust seasoning.
• Garnish with the fronds of the fennel and serve over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta with lots of crisp bread to soak up the juice.

POACHED FISH WITH SAFFRON VERMICELLI

Steps:

• Poach the fish in barely simmering (not boiling) salted water for 5-10 minutes, until the flesh looks opaque when you cut into it.
• At the same time, break the vermicelli in your hand into small pieces and cook in about 5 cups of boiling salted water with the saffron until just tender, stirring vigorously so that the vermicelli do not stick together. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the saffron water to use as a sauce. (Keep the remainder if you like-there is very little left-to pour into a soup or a stew.) Beat the olive oil into the water, season with salt and pepper, and add the parsley or cilantro.
• Serve the fish on a bed of vermicelli, with the sauce poured over.