Pierre Franeys Fish Soup Recipes

FISH SOUP PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Remove any skin and cut the fish into one inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or skillet and add the onion, leeks, garlic, red and green peppers and the saffron and cook over medium heat until softened.
• Add the wine, tomatoes, water, thyme, bay leaf, anise seed, pepper flakes and salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Simmer for ten minutes.
• Add the fish and the mussels, stir gently and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove thyme sprig and bay leaf and taste for seasoning.
• If any mussels are unopened, cook for a bit longer.
• Sprinkle with basil (or parsley) and serve.

CHAUDIERE DE POISSON (FRENCH FISH CHOWDER)

Steps:

• In a kettle or deep saucepan, combine the fish bones, wine, water, coarsely chopped onions, bay leaf, split cloves of garlic, thyme sprigs, parsley sprigs, celery, salt and peppercorns. Simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes. Strain, discarding the solids.
• Meanwhile, prepare the potatoes and let them stand in cold water.
• Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the minced garlic, finely chopped onions, green pepper and leeks. Cook, stirring, about 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is wilted.
• Sprinkle with flour and stir to distribute it evenly. Drain the potatoes and add them to the saucepan. Add six cups of the fish broth made in the first step. Let simmer 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
• Meanwhile, prepare the fish. If flounder or sole is used, you will note that there is a line of tiny fish bones running down the center of each fillet. Run a knife on each side of this line and discard it. Cut the fish fillets into one-and-one-half-inch cubes. Add the cubed fish to the chowder. Simmer about five to 10 minutes. Add the heavy cream, salt, pepper and Ricard or Pernod. Serve piping hot sprinkled with chopped parsley.

FISH SOUP WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a kettle or a large saucepan over medium heat, and add the onions, garlic, fennel, leeks and carrots. Cook, stirring often, over medium-high heat until the mixture is wilted. Do not brown.
• Add the pepper flakes, saffron, thyme, bay leaf, fish broth, wine, crushed tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the potatoes. Bring to a simmer, cover closely, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and the scallops. Check for seasoning. Simmer for 3 minutes; do not overcook. Add the cream, bring to a boil, remove from the heat, add the basil, and serve immediately with Parmesan croutons.

FISH SOUP PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 1-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or skillet. Add the onions, leeks, garlic, red and green pepper and the saffron. Cook, stirring over medium high heat, until wilted.
• Add the wine, canned tomatoes, water, thyme, bay leaf, anise seed, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and the mussels; stir gently; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Check for seasoning. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Make sure all the mussels are open. If not, cook a bit longer. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.

FISH SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the fillets lengthwise in half or quarters. Cut each length into 1 1/2- inch pieces. There should be about 3 1/2 cups.
• Rinse the mussels well and pull off and discard any ''beards'' that protrude. There should be 4 or more cups.
• Shell and devein the shrimp. There should be about 1 1/2 cups.
• Heat the oil in a small kettle or large saucepan and add the garlic, onions, leeks and celery. Add turmeric, saffron and pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, about 3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and fish broth and cook 5 minutes. Add the fish and mussels and cook 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper and stir in the parsley. Serve.

FRENCH FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 1-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan or kettle, and add the onions, celery, garlic and peppers. Cook, stirring, over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Add turmeric, saffron, wine, tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, pepper flakes, fish broth or water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the orzo, stir well and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes or until the orzo is tender.
• Add the fish, stir, bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, sprinkle with basil and serve with the garlic croutons.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH FISH

Steps:

• Trim leeks and rinse well. Quarter lengthwise; then, cut into 1 1/4-inch pieces. There should be 3 1/2 to 4 cups. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1/3 -inch cubes.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan or kettle. Add onions, leeks and garlic, and cook, stirring, until wilted. Add curry and cook, stirring, for a minute. Add potatoes, water, bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add fish, bring to a boil. (If monkfish is used, simmer for 3 minutes. If cod is used, simmer for 1 minute.) Add cream and return to a simmer. Remove bay leaf. To serve, arrange croutons on bottom of each soup bowl. Ladle hot soup over croutons, and serve.