Steamed Black Bass With Saffron Artichoke Broth Recipes

DELICIOUS STEAMED WHOLE ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Put the parsley, garlic, bay leaves, lemons, wine, oil and water in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Season the liquid with salt and pepper.
• In the meantime prepare the artichokes:
• Wash artichokes under cold water. Using a heavy stainless steel knife, cut off the stems close to the base. Pull off the lower petals that are small and tough. Cut off the top inch of the artichoke and rub with half a lemon to preserve the green color. Or you may put the artichokes in water that has some lemon juice in it. If you wish, trim the thorny tips of the petals with kitchen shears.
• Place the artichokes in the steaming broth, bottom up. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. The artichokes are done when a knife is inserted into the base and there is no resistance.
• To eat, pull off a leaf and scrape the meat off the tender end with your front teeth. Dip the ends of the leaves in lemon juice and melted butter if desired. When you reach the center cone of purple prickly leaves, remove it. This is the choke that protects the heart. Now, scrape away the thistle fuzz covering the artichoke heart. The heart is the meatiest and in my opinion, the best part of the artichoke. Steamed artichokes may be served hot or cold. Enjoy!
• You may dip the artichoke in mayonnaise that has lemon added to it, or butter and lemon juice. Yum!

HALIBUT IN ARTICHOKE AND TOMATO BROTH

Steps:

• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the halibut and season with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Cook the fish on the grill pan until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and artichokes and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and stir, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
• Ladle the artichoke and tomato broth into shallow bowls. Top with the grilled halibut. Serve immediately.

SIMPLE STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut stem from artichokes and discard, making sure the bottom of each artichoke is flat. Cut top 1 inch (or so) of the artichoke and discard. Snip the thorny ends from each artichoke leaf with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Fill the bottom of a pot with a couple of inches of water, adding garlic, lemon juice, and bay leaf to the water. Place a steamer basket in the pot, making sure that the water does not flow over the bottom of the steamer basket.
• Place the artichokes in the basket, resting on the flattened bottoms.
• Bring water to a boil, cover the pot, and cook until the leaves can be easily pulled from the artichoke, 20 to 30 minutes.

BASS IN ARTICHOKE AND TOMATO BROTH

Steps:

• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons oil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine and boil 1 minute. Add artichoke hearts, tomatoes (including juice), olives, water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, pat fish dry and sprinkle with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Transfer sauce to a 13- by 9- by 2-inch (3-quart) glass or ceramic baking dish and arrange fish (without crowding) over sauce. Dot fish with butter and cover dish tightly with foil. Roast until fish is just opaque and cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together zest and remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
• Transfer fish with vegetables and broth to shallow bowls and serve drizzled with orange oil.

SEAFOOD IN SAFFRON BROTH

Steps:

• Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, discarding stalks. Finely chop fennel and onion. Seed tomato and finely chop. Mince garlic. Scrub mussels well and remove beards. Shell shrimp and devein. Cut scrod into 1-inch pieces. Stir saffron into wine.
• In a 4-quart kettle cook fennel and onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine mixture and simmer until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, about 3 minutes. Add mussels with 1/2 cup stock and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until most mussels are opened, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp, scrod, tomato, and remaining 2 1/2 cups stock and cook at a bare simmer until fish is just cooked through, about 2 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Season mixture with salt and pepper.
• Divide seafood between 2 bowls and ladle broth over it. Garnish seafood with lemon wedges and serve with bread.

STEAMED BLACK BASS WITH SAFFRON ARTICHOKE BROTH

Steps:

• Season each bass fillet with sea salt. Place each fillet in a bamboo steamer basket over simmering water. Steam for 6 to 8 minutes and set aside. Heat the fish stock with the saffron threads to a simmer in a medium saucepot over medium heat. Add the artichokes, corn and onions. Simmer for one minute. Heat the lentils with 2 tablespoons of the water over which the bass has been steamed. Divide the lentils into 2 warmed bowls. Spoon the vegetables equally into each bowl. Pour over the saffron stock. Arrange the pea shoots over the broth and sprinkle with the diced red and yellow pepper. Place bass over the pea shoots