Shellfish Soup Recipes

SHELLFISH SOUP

Steps:

• First, throw out any mussels and clams with broken or open shells. Heat a large saucepan over a high heat and, once smoking, add the mussels, clams and white wine. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and rapidly steam for 3 mins. Once the shells have opened, tip the shellfish into a colander lined with muslin cloth, with a bowl underneath to catch the full- flavoured shellfish stock. Discard any mussels or clams that have not opened.
• Heat the oil in the saucepan and add the onion, fennel, carrot and garlic. Cook until softened and browned, about 12 mins, then add the saffron and shellfish stock. Simmer for 5 mins to infuse the saffron. Add the Pernod, tomatoes and 100ml water, and simmer for 5 mins more.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Pick the clams and mussels from the shells, reserving some for presentation, and set aside.
• To make the mayonnaise, put the mustard, vinegar, egg yolk and garlic in a bowl. Use a stick blender to blitz while slowly drizzling in both oils until thick and glossy. This will take about 5 mins. Chill until needed.
• For the croutons, thinly slice the baguette and lay on a large baking tray. Drizzle with a little olive oil and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Bake in the oven for 12-14 mins until golden and crisp.
• Once the soup has thickened, transfer to a blender and blitz until very smooth, then pass through a fine sieve. Finish with the brandy, Tabasco and lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• To serve, return the soup to the heat to warm through, then drop in the mussels and clams for 1 min. Ladle the soup into two large bowls, drizzle with a little olive oil, and serve the croutons and garlic mayonnaise on the side.

GARLIC SEAFOOD SOUP

Steps:

• Debeard the mussels if needed. Scrub the clams; if they feel too gritty, soak them in very salty ice water to expel the grit. Cut the snapper into 2-inch pieces. Set seafood aside.
• In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ginger, half of the garlic, and the onion. When the mixture becomes fragrant, add the red and yellow bell pepper and the tomato and cook for 5 minutes. Turn heat to the lowest setting and cover.
• In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add remaining garlic, juice from 1 lime, clams, mussels and 1/2 cup clam broth. Cover pan and allow mixture to cook for 7 minutes. Uncover shellfish and discard any clams and mussels that have not opened. Add 1/2 of the cilantro, the saffron, snapper pieces, the jalapeno, banana, and the bell pepper mixture from the skillet. Stir to combine, making sure there is enough liquid, if not add more clam broth, then cover and cook for 6 to 8 minutes. (The banana will thicken the soup and will impart a sweet taste to counter the lime's sour taste. Banana should completely break down during the cooking). Add coconut milk and turn the heat off. Cover and reserve.
• Uncover the soup, sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Portion into bowls (be sure to remove the jalapeno pepper) and serve with lots of crusty bread and the lime wedges.

SEAFOOD SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and green pepper; cook and stir until tender. Add carrots and garlic; cook 3 minutes longer. Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes, wine and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 30 minutes., Stir in salmon, shrimp and parsley. Cook, covered, 7-10 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork and shrimp turn pink. Discard bay leaf.

SHELLFISH SOUP

Steps:

• Firstly make the Rouilly. Mix the chilli paste with tomato puree and breadcrumbs. Fold in the olive oil, then mayonnaise. Finish with the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Now make the soup. Heat a large heavy based saucepan to a high heat, add mussels and pipis and the first measure of wine. Cover with a lid and steam until the shellfish are open. Remove from pan, pass the cooking juices through a fine sieve and place to one side. Cover the shellfish with cling-film while they are cooling to prevent them drying out.
• Wipe the saucepan clean and heat to medium. Drizzle with a little olive oil and gently sweat the onions, garlic, leeks, chilli and bayleaf until soft. Add the second measure of white wine and reduce until all the liquid has evaporated, then add the chopped tomatoes and juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes. Add the fish stock, saved cooking liquid and diced potatoes. Simmer until the potatoes are cooked. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
• Bring the soup back to the boil, add the white fish and cook for 2 minutes. Place 2 mussels and 2 pips, in the shell, in each bowl, then ladle the soup over the top of the shellfish. Sprinkle with parsley.
• Serve with toasted ciabatta, rouilly, grated provolone, either on the soup or on the side.

JAPANESE-STYLE SHELLFISH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine the mussels, shallots and white wine, and steam, covered, until all the mussels open, about five minutes. Strain the mussels, discarding any that remain closed. Remove the mussel meat from the shells, reserving 12 mussels on the half shell for garnish, and set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid. There should be about two and one-half cups.
• In a large pot over high heat, combine the fish stock with two cups of mussel broth. Add the saffron, carrots, celery, pasta and mushrooms, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for three minutes.
• Add the monkfish to the broth, return to a boil, and lower the heat to simmer for one minute. Add the shrimp, scallions and mussel meat, and cook for one minute.
• Place two mussels on the half shell in each of six bowls. Ladle equal portions of the soup over the mussels and serve immediately.

SHRIMP SOUP

Steps:

• Put ingredients, except shrimp, in chicken stock.
• Bring to boil and then lower heat.
• Cover, and cook for 45 minutes.
• Add shrimp and simmer for 30 minutes more.
• You may wish to experiment with the amount of wine you use.
• 2 cups in the pot may be a bit much for some taste.
• If that is so, you may take the rest internally.