Seafood Ragout Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S DEVILED SHRIMP RAGU

Steps:

• Place shrimp shells into a saucepan with bay leaf and 1 pinch of smoked paprika over medium-low heat; cook and stir shells until they turn pink, about 5 minutes. Pour in water, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer shrimp stock for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Mix lemon juice, ketchup, brown sugar, ground chipotle pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, garlic, 1 pinch of salt, and cayenne pepper in a bowl.
• Strain shrimp stock into a bowl; discard shells and bay leaf. Whisk shrimp stock into ketchup mixture and set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat until small wisps of smoke rise from the skillet. Cook shrimp in the hot oil until bottom sides of shrimp are seared and browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in shrimp stock mixture and cook until shrimp are opaque, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a bowl using a slotted spoon, leaving sauce in skillet.
• Bring sauce to a boil and cook until sauce has reduced and thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in cold butter, turn off heat, and let residual heat of pan melt butter. Stir until butter has incorporated into sauce and sauce is slightly thickened.
• Stir shrimp into sauce and toss with chives. Serve shrimp with sauce.

EASY BEEF RAGOUT

Steps:

• Sauté onion and garlic in margarine in large frying pan until onion is soft and golden. Turn into ungreased 3 quart casserole.
• Add beef. Add tomato juice mixture, bay leaves and pepper. Stir. Cover. Bake in 325F oven for 1 1/2 hours.
• Add next 6 ingredients. Stir. Cover. Bake for about 1 hour until beef is very tender. Remove and discard bay leaves.
• Stir water into flour in small cup until smooth. Gradually stir into beef mixture. Cover. Bake for 15 minutes until bubbling and thickened.
• Makes 10 cups.

PASTA WITH SHRIMP RAGù

Steps:

• Shell shrimp; boil shells with just enough water to cover, a large pinch of salt, a grinding of pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Simmer 10 minutes, then drain, reserving liquid (discard shells). Bring a pot of water to boil for pasta and salt it.
• Meanwhile, finely chop about a third of the shrimp. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; a minute later add onion and carrot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are quite soft, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, herb and chopped shrimp, and cook, still over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to break down. Add stock from shrimp shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is no longer soupy but still moist.
• When sauce is almost done, cook pasta. When pasta has about 5 minutes to go, stir whole shrimp into sauce. Serve pasta with sauce and shrimp, garnished with a few leaves of marjoram or oregano.

SEAFOOD RAGOUT

Steps:

• To make coriander oil,place garlic and coriander in a food processor and process until finely minced,stopping machine to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.With the machine running,slowly pour in the oil,stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl,until the oil is fully incorporated.
• Add the tablespoon of kosher salt to 3 quarts of water in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.Add the carrots,fennel and zucchini.Return to a boil.Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.Skim the vegetables out with a slotted spoon and reserve.
• Pour the stock into a large stock pot.Cover and bring to a boil.Add the clams.Cover the pot. Cook for 2 minutes.Add the mussels.Cover and cook until the clams and mussels are just open,about 4 minutes.Add the favas or limas,allow to warm and then add the calamari and vegetables and stir them in. Cover the pot and return to a boil.Lower the heat slightly and cook,stirring occasionally,until the calamari are just white,about 5 minutes.Season with salt,if needed,and pepper.Bring to a boil and serve immediately.Pass coriander oil separately.

SCALLOP RAGOUT WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add bacon, celery root, and shallot to the skillet; cook until shallot is tender, about 5 minutes. Add broth, cream, and wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until liquid is reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk butter into the skillet until melted. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a bowl and keep warm.
• Sprinkle scallops lightly with salt and pepper. Wipe out the cast iron skillet and place over medium-high heat. Add remaining oil. Add scallops to hot oil and cook until slightly browned, firm, and opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Serve scallops and ragout together.