Provencal Fish Soup With Saffron Rouille Recipes

PROVENCAL FISH SOUP

Steps:

• Make the Fish Stock
• Separate the shells and heads of the cleaned tiger pawns.
• There are many ways to make a wonderful fish stock. My way is a simplification of a friend's recipe using a whole lobster. For reasons of budget and a lack of lobsters here in the Mediterranean, I used the shells of the large prawns/shrimp to make the stock. If you'd rather present the dish with the shells still on the prawns, or prefer not to use them altogether, ask your fishmonger for some fresh good quality fish stock.
• Remove the shells from the prawns, clean them, and re-refrigerate the prawns.
• Throw the shells into a hot pan with a glug of olive oil and a small knob of butter.
• Fry the shells on a medium-high heat until they start to take on some colour. Don't be shy.
• When they're browned, add 1 litre of water and make sure to deglaze the pan by scraping off all the tasty bits on the bottom.
• Leave to simmer on a low heat for 1 hour, skimming the surface every so often to remove the impurities.
• Strain and set aside to cool.
• Passing the fish through the food mill requires patience- but it's worth it!
• Chop all the vegetables and place in a bowl ready.
• Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan. Add the vegetables and cook on a medium heat until softened.
• Meanwhile, rinse the rock fish well.
• Deglaze the pan with the white wine, scrape the bottom of the pan.
• Add the rest of the herbs and spices except the saffron.
• Add the rock fish.
• Cover to the top of the ingredients with the fish stock.
• Simmer on a low heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 hr.
• Periodically skim the scum off the surface with a spoon.
• Take off the heat, allow to cool.
• Ladle the cooled mixture into your food mill with the second to smallest metal strainer. Turn the handle until what remains in the top is quite dry. Remove this and start again with the next batch. Continue until done. Now you have the base (broth) for bouillabaisse!
• *The easiest thing to do next would be to reheat the soup, and poach the fish until just cooked (no longer) in the broth. However, for presentation purposes, I chose to pan-fry my fish in butter separately.
• Reheat the soup.
• Peel and boil the small potatoes so that they're ready for serving. We boiled them separately because we found their yellow colour a welcome contrast to the soup. However, you can always throw them in the pot and boil them in the soup.
• Pan fry or poach the cod filets (about 10 minutes depending on thickness).
• Pan fry or poach the tiger prawns (about 3 minutes).
• Add the mussels to the soup.
• Add the saffron to the soup.
• At this point, season the soup to taste with salt. Note: The mussels will add some salt, especially if they're Mediterranean mussels, so wait until they open.
• Add another chilli pepper if you like the heat.
• Add the cod to the bowls.
• Carefully ladle the soup around the cod, add the tiger prawns and mussels.
• Place the chervil on the cod.
• Serve with rouille on croutons and dry white wine from Cassis.

PROVENCAL FISH SOUP WITH SAFFRON ROUILLE

Steps:

• Wash leeks .
• Cook leeks, fennel bulb, carrots, celery, and garlic in oil with herbes de Provence, bay leaves, cayenne, saffron, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in an 8-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes.
• While vegetable mixture cooks, cut fish crosswise into 2- to 3-inch lengths.
• Add tomatoes, wine, and zest to vegetable mixture and bring to a boil, then boil 30 seconds. Add fish, water, and tomato paste and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until fish completely falls apart, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Arrange baguette slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown and thoroughly dried, about 20 minutes.
• Force soup through food mill into a large heavy pot, discarding solids. Reheat soup over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Mound rouille on croutons and put 1 in bottom of each soup bowl. Pour soup around croutons.

FISH SOUP WITH BREAD AND ROUILLE

Steps:

• Make broth:
• Wash green and white parts of leek separately in a bowl of cold water, then lift out with a slotted spoon and pat dry. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook leek greens, onion, celery, and carrots, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add saffron, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add fresh tomatoes and tomato purée and cook, stirring, 4 minutes. Add wine and simmer, uncovered, until liquid is reduced by about half, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Carefully pour through a fine sieve into a bowl, then discard solids.
• Prepare croûtes while broth simmers:
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Heat a well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot. Brush bread with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then grill on all sides until grill marks appear. Tear bread into rough 3-inch pieces and bake on a baking sheet in middle of oven until crisp outside but soft inside, about 10 minutes. Cool croûtes.
• Heat butter in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook white part of leek, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add fish, hot broth, and salt and bring to a simmer (fish will be cooked through). Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rouille.
• Put croûtes in soup plates and ladle soup over. Sprinkle with oregano and parsley and serve remaining rouille on the side.

PROVENCAL FISH STEW WITH ROUILLE

Steps:

• Mix mayonnaise, garlic, and cayenne in small bowl. Cover and chill rouille. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.)
• Place fennel fronds, thyme sprigs, and orange peel on large square of 2 layers of moistened cheesecloth. Gather cheesecloth and tie securely. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add fennel bulb and leek and sauté until soft, about 8 minutes. Add wine and saffron; bring to boil. Add broth and bouquet garni; return to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 45 minutes. Add fish and simmer until opaque in center, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Brush baguette slices with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Arrange on baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Spread rouille on toasts. Ladle stew into wide soup bowls, top with toasts, and serve.

FISH SOUP PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 1-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or skillet. Add the onions, leeks, garlic, red and green pepper and the saffron. Cook, stirring over medium high heat, until wilted.
• Add the wine, canned tomatoes, water, thyme, bay leaf, anise seed, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and the mussels; stir gently; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Check for seasoning. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Make sure all the mussels are open. If not, cook a bit longer. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.