Ingredients

  • ¾ cup flour
  • cup stone ground cornmeal
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, and more to taste
  • 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • 2 ½ tablespoons cold water
  • cup dry white wine
  • 36 small mussels, scrubbed
  • 1 pound monkfish, diced
  • 1 cup diced, peeled parsnips
  • 1 ⅓ cups diced onion
  • cup diced carrot
  • cup diced celery
  • ½ cup slivered dried apricots
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

      608 calories; 28 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 14 grams sugars; 32 grams protein; 116 milligrams cholesterol; 473 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

4 main-dish servings

Preparation

  1. Combine the flour, cornmeal and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse to blend. Cut 6 tablespoons of the butter in 1/2-inch bits, scatter them over the flour mixture, and pulse until the mixture is uniformly crumbly. Sprinkle the water over this mixture, and pulse again, about 25 to 30 times, until a ball of dough forms. Shape it into a flat disk, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours.
  2. Place the wine in a saucepan, bring to a boil and add the mussels. Cover and steam 5 to 8 minutes, until they open. Remove the mussels from the pan, reserving the liquid. Shuck the mussels into a bowl. Mix with the monkfish, and refrigerate.
  3. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, add the parsnips and blanch for 4 minutes. Drain.
  4. Heat the remaining butter in a heavy skillet. Add the onion, carrots and celery, and cook over medium heat until nicely browned, about 20 minutes. Add the reserved liquid from the mussels, the parsnips and apricots. Place 1/2 cup of this mixture in a food processor, and puree it; then, return it to the skillet. Stir in the mussels and fish, and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Divide this mixture among 4 small souffle dishes, each about 12 ounces, or place the mixture in a 6-cup souffle dish or baking dish.
  6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  7. Roll out the dough, and cut 5-inch circles if using individual dishes, or roll it to cover a single baking dish. Moisten the edges and place it over the fish, pressing the moistened edges down on the edge of the dish to seal. Cut a couple of slits in the top, brush with the milk and bake about 20 minutes, until lightly browned.

Dining and Cooking