North Carolina Fish Muddle Recipes

NORTH CAROLINA FISH STEW

Steps:

• Spray the inside of a large, stockpot with nonstick spray.
• Cut bacon into small pieces and place over the bottom of the pot. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Add a layer of onion, followed by a layer of potatoes, then of fish. Repeat the layers until you run out of one ingredient. Continue to layer the remaining two ingredients until used up. Add cold water to cover everything. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes, occasionally shaking the pot gently back and forth to agitate the contents and keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Don't stir or the fish will break into small pieces.
• Place tomato paste, one spoonful at a time, into the stew until it falls off the spoon. When the stew color changes to red, crack eggs, one at a time, into the stew, dropping them in different places. Let eggs cook until they are completely done, cutting into a yoke to make sure it is cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper and serve.

MUDDLE

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a kettle and cook, stirring often, until the pieces are rendered of fat and crisp. Remove and reserve the pieces.
• Cut the quartered onions crosswise into thin slices. There should be about 5 cups.
• To the fat in the kettle add onions, celery, garlic and orange rind. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes.
• Cut the tomatoes into thin slices. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes; there should be about 2 cups. Add the tomatoes to the kettle and cook about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and fish or shrimp broth. Add the thyme, red pepper and salt. Let simmer about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender without being mushy.
• Add the fish and shrimp and let simmer about 1 minute. Add the scallops and stir.
• Break 1 egg at a time into a saucer and carefully slide the 4 eggs onto the simmering soup. Cover closely and let the soup simmer slowly until the whites are firm and the yolks remain runny. As the eggs cook, baste them carefully with some of the hot liquid. Immediately spoon 1 egg into each of 4 hot soup bowls. Spoon the soup with fish and potatoes over all.
• Blend bacon bits, scallions, basil and parsley together and garnish each serving with an equal portion of the mixture. Serve immediately