Bouillabaisse With Seared Halibut Recipes

Steps:

• Make croutons:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 250°F.
• Arrange bread slices in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan and brush both sides with oil. Bake until crisp, about 30 minutes. Rub 1 side of each toast with a cut side of garlic.
• Make soup:
• Plunge lobster headfirst into a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling water, then cook, covered, 2 minutes from time lobster enters water. Transfer lobster with tongs to a colander and let stand until cool enough to handle. Discard hot water in pot. Put lobster in a shallow baking pan. Twist off claws with knuckles from body, then crack claws with a mallet or rolling pin and separate claws from knuckles. Halve body and tail lengthwise through shell with kitchen shears, then cut crosswise through shell into 2-inch pieces. Reserve lobster juices that accumulate in baking pan.
• Cook tomatoes, onion, and garlic in oil in cleaned 6- to 8-quart pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Stir potatoes into tomatoes with fennel fronds, bay leaf, saffron, sea salt, and pepper. Add stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add thicker pieces of fish and cockles to soup and simmer, covered, 2 minutes. Stir in mussels, shrimp, lobster, including juices, and remaining fish and simmer, covered, until they are just cooked through and mussels open wide, about 5 minutes.
• Stir 3 tablespoons broth from soup into rouille until blended.
• Arrange 2 croutons in each of 6 to 8 deep soup bowls. Carefully transfer fish and shellfish from soup to croutons with a slotted spoon, then ladle some broth with vegetables over seafood.
• Top each serving with 1 teaspoon rouille and serve remainder on the side.

Steps:

• For the shrimp stock: In a large saucepan over high heat, heat the oil until almost smoking. Add the shrimp shells and tails, onion, carrot and celery and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, then add 10 cups of cold water, the tomatoes, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, skimming the surface occasionally, for 40 minutes.
• Strain the stock through a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. The stock can be made 2 days in advance and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator, or frozen up to 3 months.
• For the tomato aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, anchovies, tomato powder, tomato paste, green onion, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• For the broth: Heat the oil in a large, high-sided saute pan over high heat and cook the fennel and onion until they begin to soften. Add the pastis and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, saffron, chile flakes and 2 cups of the shrimp stock. Bring to a boil, add the garlic and cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Add 4 more cups of shrimp stock, reduce the heat and cook until the flavors meld and the broth reduces slightly, about 20 minutes. Strain the shrimp-tomato broth into a large bowl, discard the solids, pour the liquid back into the high-sided saute pan and set aside.
• For the anchovy butter: Put the anchovies and butter in a bowl and mix until combined. Season with salt and pepper, cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 20 minutes.
• For the seafood: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Season the scallops on both sides with salt and pepper. Sear the scallops on one side until golden brown, about 2 minutes, then turn over and cook for 30 seconds. Remove to a baking sheet.
• Add another tablespoon of the oil to the pan and season both sides of the halibut fillets with salt and pepper. Sear on one side until golden brown, then turn over and cook for 30 seconds. Remove to the baking sheet with the scallops.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the large saute pan, season the shrimp with salt and pepper and sear until the shells become lightly golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Deglaze the pan with 1 cup of the reserved shrimp-tomato broth. Transfer the liquid to the remaining shrimp-tomato broth in the high-sided saute pan.
• Heat the shrimp-tomato broth over high heat. Add the mussels, cover and cook until they open, about 2 minutes. Remove the mussels to the baking sheet with a slotted spoon and discard any that did not open.
• Add the seared seafood and lobster tails to the shrimp-tomato broth, cover and let cook for 2 minutes.
• To serve: Add the anchovy butter to the broth and cook until thickened; stir in the parsley, tarragon and lemon zest. Top each baguette slice with a large dollop of tomato aioli and garnish with chives. Divide the seafood and broth among 6 large, slightly shallow soup bowls. Top each with a tomato aioli crouton and garnish with more parsley or tarragon or chives, if desired.

Steps:

• Remove gills and any traces of blood from fish heads. Thoroughly wash fish bones; cut them into lengths that will fit inside 12-quart stockpot. Set aside.
• Cut leeks into quarters lengthwise; slice 1/4 inch thick. Place in a small bowl of cold water; let soak 5 to 10 minutes to remove dirt and sand. Drain; set aside.
• Make a bouquet garni: Cut dark-green leek leaves into two 5-inch lengths. Arrange tarragon and parsley sprigs in center of one leaf. Place other leaf on top to enclose tarragon; tie with kitchen string.
• Roast seeds: Heat a small skillet over medium heat until very warm. Add coriander, fennel, and cumin seeds to warm skillet. Cook, shaking pan or stirring frequently, until toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Let seeds cool in a bowl.
• Strain whole tomatoes over small bowl, reserving liquid. Remove seeds; place tomatoes in bowl with liquid. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a 12-quart stockpot over medium heat; add reserved sliced leeks, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and paprika. Cook until onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add reserved whole tomatoes and their liquid, sun-dried tomatoes, saffron, turmeric, harissa, roasted coriander, fennel, and cumin seeds. Stir to combine.
• Raise heat to high, add reserved fish heads and bones, and cook, stirring frequently, until bones are opaque, about 5 minutes. Add fennel branches, orange peel, and bouquet garni. Add water to just cover bones, about 4 quarts. Bring to a boil; skim foam from the surface. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes. Pour stock through a sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Return liquid to pot.
• Meanwhile, bring a large stockpot of cold water to a rolling boil. Quickly add lobsters; cook about 12 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Drain lobsters; submerge in cold water to stop cooking. Drain again.
• Place 1 cup reserved stock in a large saucepan. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil; add mussels. Cover; cook until mussels open, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard any mussels that do not open.
• Meanwhile, place stockpot with stock over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Add potatoes; cook until just tender, about 20 minutes. Add fish fillets; cook until opaque and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more. Remove tails and claws from lobsters (discard bodies or reserve for other use). Crack open claws and tail; add with mussels to pot; cook just long enough to warm. Serve with rouille and toasted French bread rounds.