Saffron Fish Chowder Recipes

PORTUGUESE FISH STEW (CALDEIRADA)

Steps:

• In a large dutch oven or heavy bottom pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic, stirring until softened, fragrant and golden, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and their juices. Cook until tomatoes soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add the white wine, and simmer until most has evaporated, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add stock, fish sauce ( if using chicken broth), saffron, a pinch of ground clove or allspice, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaves and fresh thyme. Add potatoes and bring to boil. Cover and simmer on low heat until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add fish, bring to a simmer over medium heat, give a gentle stir ( don't over stir or fish will break apart) and cook fish until it is just cooked through about 3-4 minutes. Turn heat off.
• Taste broth. Adjust salt, adding more if necessary.
• Garnish with fresh torn Italian parsley leaves, lemon wedges, chili flakes and crusty bread.

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.

NORDIC SALMON CHOWDER WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Very finely dice the garlic and both the white and the green parts of the leek, then sauté over medium heat in the bottom of a soup pot with a pinch of salt until the leeks begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Old Bay Seafood Seasoning.
• Stir in the water, the light whipping cream, the sour cream, the white wine, the saffron, the thyme, and the basil. Bring to a low boil, then add the mixed shellfish. Reduce heat to a steady simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Add the salmon and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
• Serve warm, with homemade rye rolls and a salad.

SIMPLE SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, then add the onion and bacon. Cook for 8-10 mins until the onion is soft and the bacon is cooked. Stir in the flour, then cook for a further 2 mins.
• Pour in the fish stock and bring it up to a gentle simmer. Add the potatoes, cover, then simmer for 10-12 mins until the potatoes are cooked through.
• Add the mace, cayenne pepper and some seasoning, then stir in the milk.
• Tip the fish pie mix into the pan, gently simmer for 4 mins. Add the cream and shellfish, then simmer for 1 min more. Check the seasoning. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with some crusty bread.

COD CHOWDER WITH SAFFRON AND FINGERLING POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Add leeks to same pot. Cover and cook until leeks are very tender, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes. Add clam juice, potatoes, 1/2 cup water, thyme, and saffron. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and cover. Simmer until potatoes are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Stir in cream and reserved bacon. Season chowder to taste with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle cod with salt and pepper; place atop chowder. Cover and cook until cod is opaque in center, about 10 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer 1 cod fillet to each of 6 bowls. Ladle chowder over fish and serve.