Seven Fishes Stew Recipes

SEVEN-FISHES STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a wide, shallow pot over medium heat. Add shallots and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 3 minutes.
• Add stock, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add clams, and reduce heat. Cover, and simmer 1 minute. Stir in mussels, cover, and simmer just until shellfish begin to open, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in snapper and monkfish, cover, and simmer just until fish is opaque throughout, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in squid, scallops, and shrimp. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 minute. Discard any clams or mussels that haven't opened, and transfer seafood to a tureen or serving bowl. Pour stock through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl. Return stock to seafood, and stir in basil. Serve immediately.

FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES PIE

Steps:

• Butter a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish or casserole. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then stir in leeks and 1 teaspoon salt, and cook until soft, stirring frequently, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and anchovies and cook 1 minute, until the anchovies dissolve. Add wine and bring to a boil, then let simmer until the wine evaporates almost completely. Remove from heat and scrape into a heatproof bowl.
• In the same skillet, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook until pale golden, 1 to 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in chicken stock and clam juice, and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Simmer for 1 to 3 minutes until very thick (it will thin out as it bakes), then remove from heat.
• Pat the fish cubes, shrimp and scallops dry. Stir them into the sauce along with the sautéed leeks, peas, tarragon, parsley, capers and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Spoon mixture into prepared dish.
• Chill uncovered, for at least 1 hour, and up to overnight.
• Before baking, heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together egg with 1 teaspoon water. On a lightly floured surface, unroll pastry dough. Roll it 1/8-inch thick. Use a fish cutter or paring knife to cut out a fish from the center of dough. (Alternatively, you can cut circles from the dough and overlap them on top of the pie to look like fish scales).
• Place pastry on top of pie and trim edges, but don't seal them (sealing impinges on the puffing). Brush egg wash all over pastry.
• Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. If you like, spoon the sour cream into a shallow dish, top it with the trout roe and serve it on the side for guests to add to the pie. Or spoon the caviar into the fish cutout on top of the pie and serve sour cream on the side.