Ingredients
- Good olive oil, as needed
- 4 to 8thick slices good bread
- 1onion, chopped
- 4cloves garlic, chopped
- 2celery stalks, trimmed and chopped
- 1carrot, trimmed and chopped
- 1medium new potato, peeled and chopped
- 1small bulb fennel, trimmed and chopped
- ¼teaspoon saffron, optional
- 3cups lobster stock
- 2cups chopped tomatoes, with their juice (canned are O.K.)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 to 1 ½pounds chopped boneless fish and shellfish, preferably a variety
- 8littleneck clams
- 8mussels
- 2sea scallops
- 2tablespoons Pernod or other pastis, optional
- Chopped fennel fronds, for garnish
- Chopped basil or parsley, for garnish
- Rouille, optional
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
462 calories; 7 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 46 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 49 grams protein; 96 milligrams cholesterol; 1046 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
At least 4 servings
Preparation
- Heat oven to 200 degrees; brush bread liberally with olive oil, and bake on a sheet, turning once, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
- Add enough olive oil to a Dutch oven, deep skillet or shallow pot to make a thick layer (don’t skimp) on the bottom. In it, cook onion, garlic, celery, carrot, potato, fennel and saffron until glossy. Add stock and tomato and bring to a moderate boil; cook until thick and stewy rather than soupy. Season to taste; it should be so delicious that you don’t even care whether you add fish.
- Lower heat to a simmer, and, as you add fish, adjust heat so that the liquid continues to bubble gently. Add fish in order of how long they will take to cook. Monkfish, striped bass and squid are fish that might require more than a few minutes, so add them first. About five minutes later add clams and mussels, holding back any fish that has been cooked or will cook in a flash. When mollusks open, add remaining fish. Cut scallops into quarters and place in the bottom of 4 bowls.
- Add pastis if you’re using it; taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle hot soup and fish over the scallops, distributing clams and mussels evenly. Garnish and serve with croutons and rouille, if you’re using.
- To make rouille, add 1/2 cup finely minced roasted, peeled and seeded red bell pepper, 2 cloves finely minced garlic and cayenne to taste to either homemade or store-bought mayonnaise.
Dining and Cooking