Fish Stew With Saffron Couscous Recipes

FISH STEW WITH ROAST GARLIC & SAFFRON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. To make the saffron and garlic paste, cut the whole heads of garlic in half horizontally. Place the garlic heads, cut-side up, on a small baking tray. Drizzle over a little olive oil and season with salt. Cover with foil and bake for 40-50 mins until softened. Remove the foil and return to the oven for a further 15-20 mins until the garlic has turned golden brown.
• Meanwhile, make the soup base. Chop the fennel, celery and onion into small dice and thinly slice the red chilli. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the chopped vegetables. Grate the garlic into the pan and add the fennel seeds. Stir well, then cover and sweat for 10 mins. Add the saffron and bay leaves, and cook for a further 10 mins until the vegetables start to soften. Pour in the Pernod and wine, bring to the boil, then add the passata and 400ml water. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer. Cover and cook for 45 mins until all of the flavours have started to work together, then remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool a little.
• Transfer the soup to a jug blender and blend until smooth, then pass through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan - you may need to do this in batches. If the soup needs thickening, reduce over a medium heat. When it is the consistency of pouring cream, remove from the heat and set aside, or leave to cool and chill in the fridge until needed. The base of the soup can be made 3 days ahead.
• Meanwhile, for the paste, pour the Pernod into a small saucepan and add the saffron. Bring to the boil, add the olive oil and warm gently. Take off the heat and leave to cool.
• When the garlic is golden brown, remove the tray from the oven and squeeze the cloves out into the bowl of a pestle and mortar. Add a large pinch of flaky sea salt and pound to a paste. Slowly add the saffron-infused olive oil, stirring constantly. Transfer to a clean container and chill until needed.
• Bring the soup base to the boil in a large pan, then turn down to a light simmer and taste for seasoning. Add the chunks of prepared fish and squid, and gently poach the fish in the soup for 10 mins, or until it is just cooked. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and parsley. Ladle the soup into bowls, piling up the fish in the centre. Spoon on the saffron and garlic paste and sprinkle over some more parsley. Serve with toasted slices of baguette and the extra saffron and garlic paste on the side.

FISH STEW WITH SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups stock to a boil over high heat. Place couscous, cinnamon, and saffron in a large bowl. Pour boiling stock over couscous; cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm spot for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and fluff couscous with a fork; let stand until all liquid has been absorbed. Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins; season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add halibut or bass and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Add clams, mussels, and tomatoes; stir to combine. Add garlic, pepper flakes, and shrimp. Carefully add wine and remaining cup fish stock; cook until clams and mussels open. Stir in calamari and cook for 30 seconds.
• To serve, divide couscous evenly between 4 plates and top with seafood mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with parsley; serve immediately.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine warm water and saffron together in a bowl.
• Mix couscous and vegetable broth together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove saucepan from heat, cover saucepan, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a bowl.
• Stir saffron mixture, celery, currants, olive oil, lemon juice, harissa, cumin, and sea salt into couscous. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.

FISH TAGINE WITH SAFFRON & ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for a few mins until soft. Meanwhile, put the saffron in the hot stock and leave to steep. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli to the pan and cook for a few mins more. Tip in the spices and tomato purée, stir for a few mins until fragrant, then add the tomatoes, ground almonds, orange zest and juice, honey and saffron-scented stock, making sure that you use all of the saffron strands. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has thickened a little.
• Add the fish to the pan, making sure the pieces are all nestled under the sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer on a low heat for 2-3 mins until just cooked. Check seasoning, add the coriander and scatter with the toasted almonds. Serve scattered with the chilli, along with some couscous and a blob of natural yogurt, if you like.

SAFFRON ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Pour white wine into a small bowl; add saffron. Let soak, about 10 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a 4-quart pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add couscous and stir until toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Carefully stir in saffron-infused wine, chicken broth, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cover; cook until liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Add more broth if couscous starts to stick to the bottom and cooking is not yet complete.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, covered, before serving.

FISH STEAMED WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a bowl and cover with tepid water. It will soften and double in size.
• Heat a medium-sized saucepan on a low heat, and saute the onion, garlic and chopped chiles in oil. Pound in the mortar the salt, fennel and cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cinnamon. Add to the onion with the butter, then once melted add the finely sliced coriander stalks and the couscous. Break it up with your spoon.
• Turn the heat down to a very low heat, and add the fish, skin side up. Drizzle with olive oil, a bit of salt and pepper and throw in the lemon, cut in halves. Cover with some wet greaseproof paper, and cook for 15 minutes.
• To serve, sprinkle with the coriander leaves and sliced chile; squeeze the lemon halves, dollop on some creme fraiche and drizzle with olive oil.