Mussel Brodetto Recipes

Steps:

• Pour the 1/2 cup of olive oil into the big pan, toss in the garlic, and set over medium-high heat. After 2 or 3 minutes, when the garlic is sizzling nicely, drop in the lemon slices, raise the heat to high, and cook stirring, for a minute or so until the lemon is sizzling and melting into the oil and the garlic is just starting to turn golden. Toss in the onion slices, sprinkle on 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and cook, stirring and shaking the pan for 2 to 3 minutes or so, until wilted. Dump in all the mussels and immediately begin tossing them in the hot oil, lemon and onion, for a half a minute or so. Cover the pot and cook for a minute, shaking it often; uncover and pour in the wine, toss the mussels; add another 1/4 teaspoon salt and grinds of pepper, toss the mussels well and cover. Cook two minutes or so, until most of the mussels are opening and are still plump. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over all and toss well, mixing the crumbs with the sauce; then toss the mussels with the parsley. Finally, turn off the heat and drizzle the 2 tablespoons of olive oil all over and toss, coating the mussels with the hot sauce. Serve right away, in hot bowls, ladling some of the brodetto over each portion of mussels.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, Dutch oven, or preferably a clay pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery, bay leaves, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the mashed tomatoes and cook for 15 minutes over medium heat. Add the fish. Pour in the vinegar or wine. Cook until the liquid has almost evaporated, about 10 minutes; pour in the fish stock. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Gently mix in the clams. Cook until clams have opened (discard any that don't open) about 2 minutes, and then stir in the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are pink, about 3 minutes.
• Place a slice of toasted bread in the bottom of each bowl. Ladle brodetto over the bread and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Steam the mussels with the wine and water until opened, 3 to 5 minutes. Strain, reserve the broth and set the mussels aside to cool.
• Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add one clove of garlic, chili-pepper flakes, ginger, coriander seed, orange rind and onion. Cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, marjoram, thyme and the reserved mussel broth. Simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat.
• Preheat the grill or broiler. Use the remaining olive oil to brush the bread on both sides. Cut the remaining garlic clove in half lengthwise and rub the bread on both sides. Grill or broil the bread until golden. Remove and set aside.
• Add the squid, cod and snapper to the stew. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the mussels and continue simmering for 3 more minutes. Place a piece of country bread in the bottom of each bowl, ladle the soup over it and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Put the sea bass on a flat surface and cut it crosswise into one-and-one-half-inch pieces. Repeat with the striped bass. Set both fish aside.
• Cut the cleaned squid into one-inch lengths. Set aside.
• Cut each lobster tail crosswise into three or four pieces.
• Heat the oil in a very large casserole with a heavy bottom and, when it is hot and almost smoking, add the onions. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Take care not to burn.
• Arrange the pieces of sea bass, striped bass and lobster tails in the casserole. Cook, turning the pieces occasionally, over high heat about three minutes. Add the vinegar and stir. Cover and cook about one minute.
• Add the fish stock and bring to the simmer. Cover. Cook about five minutes.
• Add the marinara sauce and cover. Cook three minutes.
• Add the squid, salt and pepper to taste and partly cover. Let cook eight minutes.
• Add the shrimp, clams and mussels and cook five minutes longer, or just until the mussels and clams open. Serve with portions of polenta.