Stephens Fish Dumplings And Saffron Sauce Recipes

PAPRIKA CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven for 1 minute. Add chicken, skin-side down, and brown for about 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan and add celery, carrot, onion, garlic and paprika. Cook for 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Add broth and water, then return the chicken to the pan. Pepper generously. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, warm the milk and saffron threads for one minute on stovetop over medium heat or in microwave. The milk will turn yellow. In a food processor, or with your fingers, quickly combine flour, baking powder, and shortening. Remove blade from bowl and gently mix in saffron milk. Gather dough into a ball and flatten it out into a 1-inch thick disk. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until just 20 minutes before use.
• After dough has chilled, place it on a lightly floured surface and cut into 12 rectangular pieces with a sharp knife. Just 15 minutes before serving, slip dumplings into the simmering soup. Cover and cook just below a boil until dumplings puff up and float to top. Carefully ladle some soup with 2 thighs and 3 dumplings into each bowl. Garnish with a little chopped parsley.

FISH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Run the fish through a meat grinder twice; it should be very fine and smooth. (You can use a food processor, although it can be more difficult to get a smooth consistency that way.)
• In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the cornstarch, salt, pepper, and fish and mix well. Gently fold the cream into the fish mixture, trying not to deflate cream.
• With a spoon, form the dumpling mixture into small balls.

HALIBUT FILLETS WITH CREAMY SAFFRON SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk yogurt together with salt, pepper, Aleppo pepper or cayenne, and shallot. Rub saffron between your fingers to crush it, then stir it into yogurt mixture. Let sit for about 20 minutes (or covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours). Just before serving, add juice, taste, and adjust seasoning.
• Sprinkle halibut with salt and Aleppo pepper or cayenne. Put butter in nonstick skillet large enough to hold halibut, and turn heat to medium. When the butter melts, add fish, and cook gently, turning once or twice, until a thin bladed knife meets little resistance when inserted into the thickest part, generally less than 10 minutes.
• Serve fish hot, warm, or at room temperature, with the sauce spooned over it.

SAFFRON FISH WITH RED PEPPERS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl and sprinkle with the saffron strands. Use a spoon to press the saffron strands against the side of the bowl to release the flavor. Cover the bowl with a plate and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over low. Add the bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cilantro stems, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is transparent.
• Nestle the fish into the vegetables, sprinkle with the paprika, red-pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the prepared saffron water over everything. (You can do all of this in advance 1 day in advance, and refrigerate until ready to finish.)
• When ready to cook, add the olives and preserved lemon (if using - but if using fresh lemon, that will come in Step 5). Bring the mixture to a boil over high, reduce to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, basting the fish every 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Taste for seasoning and serve, setting the fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, if not using the preserved lemon. Serve warm or at room temperature.

WHITE-FISH STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Whisk together 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in cream until dough is shaggy. In a medium pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots; season with salt and cook, stirring, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in clam juice, 1 cup water, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Season fish with salt and pepper and add to broth. Drop heaping spoonfuls of dough into fish mixture. Cover and simmer until dumplings are cooked through, 15 to 18 minutes. Season to taste. Sprinkle with parsley; serve.