Fish Soup With Mussels And Clams Recipes

MUSSELS, CLAMS AND SHRIMP IN SPICY BROTH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper. Saute until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and the flavors blend, about 5 minutes. Stir in the clams. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the mussels. Cover and cook until the clams and mussels open, about 5 minutes longer.
• Using a tongs, transfer the opened shellfish to serving bowls (discard any shellfish that do not open). Add the shrimp and basil to the simmering tomato broth. Simmer until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes. Divide the shrimp and tomato broth among the bowls. Serve with the warm bread.

FISH FILLET WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Depending on what kind of flatfish you're using, either remove the top dark skin by pulling it off or cutting it off with a sharp or - if the skin is relatively thin- leave it attached or scale it. Scrape the bottom white side to remove any scales and remove the sharp fins with scissors. (Or ask your fishmonger to do all of this.) Rinse the fish in cold water.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a 4-quart pot, bring the wine to a simmer with the shallots. Add the mussels or clams, cover, and steam until they open - about 7 minutes for mussels, 12 minutes for clams. Take the mussels or clams out of their shells, discard the shells, and reserve the meats. If the shellfish-steaming liquid is sandy, pour it slowly and carefully into a bowl, leaving the sand behind. Arrange the flatfish- dark skin side up- in a buttered or oiled dish that closely fits it and pour on the shellfish- cooking liquid. There should be enough liquid to come halfway up the sides of the fish. If there isn't, add some water or fish broth. Place the containers with the fish on the stove over medium heat until the liquid comes to a simmer. Loosely cover with aluminum foil and slide the fish into the oven . Braise for 5 to 12 minutes per inch of thickness. Carefully transfer the fish to individual platters or plates using a large spatula. Keep the fish warm while you're preparing the sauce. Strain the cooking liquid into a 2- quart saucepan and cook it down over high heat until 1/2 cup remains. Thicken the sauce by whisking in any optional thickeners and bringing it to a quick simmer. Once the sauce is thickened, add the lemon juice and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently reheat the mussels or clams in the sauce - don't let it boil - and spoon the sauce and the mussels or clams over each fish.

FISH, CLAMS, AND MUSSELS WITH WHITE WINE AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Cut striped bass fillets and halibut fillets into 2-inch cubes (don't use tuna or salmon - they do not belong in a fish stew). In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped shallots, chopped garlic, and dried crushed red pepper. After they are light brown (about 2 minutes), add parsley, then quickly throw in the fish. Add salt and pepper to taste. After the fish is lightly colored, add clams and mussels and white wine. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes (when the mussels and clams open, the stew is done). Okay? Sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley. Serve with 1/2-inch-thick slices of Italian bread, fried in olive oil, on the side. That's it; it's done.