Fish Stew With Saffron Couscous Recipes

FISH STEAMED WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a bowl and cover with tepid water. It will soften and double in size.
• Heat a medium-sized saucepan on a low heat, and saute the onion, garlic and chopped chiles in oil. Pound in the mortar the salt, fennel and cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cinnamon. Add to the onion with the butter, then once melted add the finely sliced coriander stalks and the couscous. Break it up with your spoon.
• Turn the heat down to a very low heat, and add the fish, skin side up. Drizzle with olive oil, a bit of salt and pepper and throw in the lemon, cut in halves. Cover with some wet greaseproof paper, and cook for 15 minutes.
• To serve, sprinkle with the coriander leaves and sliced chile; squeeze the lemon halves, dollop on some creme fraiche and drizzle with olive oil.

MOROCCAN SEAFOOD STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a medium heatproof bowl; add 1 cup boiling water and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it starts softening, about 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion is coated, about 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup water, the tomatoes, green beans, olives and brine, and cilantro. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the mussels. Cover and cook until they start opening, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the shrimp; continue to cook, covered, until the mussels are open and the shrimp are opaque, about 5 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Fluff the couscous with a fork. Divide among bowls; top with the seafood stew and more cilantro.

TOMATO-SAFFRON FISH STEW

Steps:

• Slice a piece of orange peel about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and the length of one side of an orange. Briefly whirl tomatoes and juice in a food processor or blender, just until broken up, but not puréed.
• In a large saucepan or soup pot, stir tomatoes with 4 cups (1 L) water, bay leaf, peel strip and saffron. Place over medium-high heat. Stir in garlic, thyme, fennel, salt, celery salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor.
• In a measuring cup, stir flour with 1/3 cup (75 mL) cold water until no lumps remain. After tomato mixture has simmered 15 minutes, slowly add to flour and water mixture while stirring constantly. Continue simmering, uncovered and stirring often, until mixture has thickened and no taste of flour remains, from 10 to 15 minutes.
• Taste, and add salt and pepper, if needed. Broth will have a very strong taste, which mellows when seafood is added. If making ahead, remove from heat at this point and refrigerate. Covered, broth will keep well for 3 days.
• Meanwhile, removing any bones or shells (but not from mussels or clams), cut fish or seafood into bite-size chunks.
• When ready to serve, remove bay leaf and orange peel from broth. If using clams, stir into hot stew and simmer 10 minutes before adding remaining fish and seafood. Stir fish, seafood, including any mussels and parsley, into simmering stew.
• Simmer, covered and stirring often, until clam or mussel shells have opened, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with more chopped fresh parsley. Serve with a crisp baguette or sourdough bread to dip into the broth.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine warm water and saffron together in a bowl.
• Mix couscous and vegetable broth together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove saucepan from heat, cover saucepan, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a bowl.
• Stir saffron mixture, celery, currants, olive oil, lemon juice, harissa, cumin, and sea salt into couscous. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.

FISH STEW WITH SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups stock to a boil over high heat. Place couscous, cinnamon, and saffron in a large bowl. Pour boiling stock over couscous; cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm spot for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and fluff couscous with a fork; let stand until all liquid has been absorbed. Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins; season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add halibut or bass and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Add clams, mussels, and tomatoes; stir to combine. Add garlic, pepper flakes, and shrimp. Carefully add wine and remaining cup fish stock; cook until clams and mussels open. Stir in calamari and cook for 30 seconds.
• To serve, divide couscous evenly between 4 plates and top with seafood mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with parsley; serve immediately.