White Fish With Braised Leeks And Saffron Recipes

FISH WITH CREAMY LEEKS

Steps:

• Whisk together sour cream and flour.
• Wash leeks, then put in a large heavy skillet with butter, 1/3 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover with parchment, then with a lid, and simmer over medium heat, stirring once or twice, until leeks are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in sour-cream mixture and remaining 1/3 cup water.
• Season fish with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, then add to leeks and cook, covered with parchment and lid, until just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with dill.

WHITE FISH WITH BRAISED LEEKS AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Crush saffron and a pinch of kosher salt with a mortar and pestle (or with the side of a large knife) until combined. Stir in hot water; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large straight-sided skillet or braiser pan over medium. Add leeks; season with kosher salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and evenly coated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add vermouth and tomatoes; cook 1 minute.
• Add saffron water and broth; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and simmer, partially covered, until leeks are completely tender, about 25 minutes.
• Season both sides of fish with kosher salt and lemon zest; drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Nestle into leek mixture, cover, and cook until fish is opaque and just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir remaining 1 tablespoon butter into broth. To serve, toss together herbs and sprinkle over fish, then drizzle with more oil and season with flaky salt.

FILLET OF FISH WITH LEEK SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle fish on all sides with salt and pepper.
• Trim off root ends of leeks. Cut each leek crosswise in half. Put upper green portion to another use, such as soup, or discard.
• Slice white part of leek lengthwise and rinse thoroughly between the leaves. Cut into thin strips, then into very thin cubes. There should be about 3 1/2 cups.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add shallots. Cook briefly, stirring, and add leeks. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes and add wine and fish broth or clam juice. Cover closely and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and cook until most of the liquid evaporates. Swirl in 6 tablespoons of butter and the chives or parsley. Add salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a large, heavy skillet and add fish fillets. Cook about 2 minutes on one side or until golden brown. Cook about 1 minute on second side. Cooking time will depend on thickness of fillets. This may have to be done in two batches.
• Spoon equal batches of the leek mixture into centers of four warmed plates. Cover each portion with one cooked fillet. Spoon 1 teaspoon of lemon juice over each fillet and serve.

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.

FISH BAKED WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim about 1/2 -inch from the root ends of the leeks, then trim off and discard all of the tough green leaves.
• Cut the rest in half lengthwise and chop; then wash well in a colander, being sure to rinse between all of the layers.
• Scatter the leeks over the bottom of an ovenproof casserole.
• Mix with the wine or stock, salt, pepper, and mustard.
• Top with the fish and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Cover the casserole and put in oven.
• Bake for 10 - 15 minutes, or until a thin-bladed knife meets little or no resistance when inserted into the thickest part of the fish.
• Uncover and serve with the leeks and pan juices spooned over the fish.

LEEKS BRAISED IN CREAM WITH GARLIC AND LEMON

Steps:

• Trim leeks about 2 inches beyond the point where the leaves start to darken.
• Trim the root end and cut the leeks in half length-wise and then crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Place the leek pieces in a large bowl filled with cold water and rinse thoroughly.
• Lift the leeks out of the water (the soil will have sunk to the bottom) and into a colander to drain.
• Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the leeks and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks start to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the cream, broth and zest.
• Cover and simmer until the leeks are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and cook until the braising liquid thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

MUSSELS WITH LEEKS & SAFFRON

Steps:

• Wash the mussels in a sink of cold water, removing any little beards and scrubbing any barnacles. Tap each one on the side of the sink - if the mussel doesn't close tightly, discard it (also discard any with broken shells). Put the mussels in a colander (in batches) and rinse really well under cold running water.
• Heat the oil in a large pan (or two pans if you don't have one big enough to fit all the mussels). Sauté the leeks for 8-10 mins until softening, then add the garlic and cook for another few mins. Add the bouquet garni, pour over the sherry and wine, sprinkle over the saffron and bring to just under the boil. Stir to help the saffron flavour the wine.
• Turn the heat down to medium-low, then add the mussels and stir. Cover the pan and allow the mussels to cook until they open (this will take about 4 mins), shaking the pan a few times. Remove the bouquet garni. Add the cream, stir and heat through. Taste for seasoning (mussels are always pretty salty, so you shouldn't need to add anything). Scatter over the parsley, then transfer the mussels to a large, warm serving dish or serve them straight from the pan.

CLAMS AND WHITE FISH IN CARROT-SAFFRON BROTH

Steps:

• To bloom saffron, crush it in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt; transfer to a small bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon hot water; set aside. Rub orange zest over both sides of fish; season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Roughly chop dark-green parts of leek and half of fennel bulb. Place in a small saucepan; cover with 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Strain; discard solids. Meanwhile, finely chop white and light-green parts of leek and remaining half of fennel bulb.
• Heat 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in a large straight-sided skillet (or large Dutch oven) over medium; add finely chopped leek and fennel and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and cook until wine has evaporated, 1 minute.
• Add carrots, saffron mixture, clam juice, and 1 1/2 cups strained broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until carrots are crisp-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add clams, cover, and cook until all have opened, about 10 minutes more. Remove clams and transfer to a bowl (discarding any unopened ones); cover to keep warm.
• Add fish to skillet, cover, and simmer until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer fish to a plate. Stir remaining 2 tablespoons butter into broth; season lightly with salt and pepper. Return clams and fish to skillet; heat through, 30 seconds. Serve with bread and orange wedges.