We often do a fish stew, its lovely - put the pan in the middle of the table couple of small bowls and big chunk of fresh bread!!...washerd down with a few glasses of Chablis, perfect!!
Ingredients
700g/1½lb white fish fillets - whatever is available and looks good, a mixture of fish is fine
500g/1 lb 2oz mussels or clams
350g/12oz cleaned squid, cut into rings (optional, but an excellent addition)
4 shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 x 400g/14oz tins chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato purée
1-2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp Pernod or Noilly Prat
2 strips dried orange peel (fresh peel will not be as good. To make your own leave some strips of zest to dry on a wire rack for a few days then keep in an airtight jar)
1 chunky sprig of thyme
300ml/½ pint fish stock
salt
freshly ground black pepper
rice or crusty bread, to serve
Method
1. Cut the fish fillets into pieces about 4cm/1.5in across.
2. Scrub the mussels clean, pull away any beards and rinse thoroughly in cold water. Throw away any that have broken shells.
3. Mussels that are gaping open should be tapped firmly on the work surface. If they close up they are fine, but if they remain open discard them.
4. If using clams, rinse thoroughly and discard any that do not close when tapped firmly.
5. Cook the shallots, garlic and coriander seeds gently in the oil until the shallots are tender and translucent.
6. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, sugar, Pernod or Noilly Prat, orange peel, thyme and a little salt and freshly ground black pepper. Simmer down until thick.
7. Stir in the fish stock and bring to the boil. Simmer for two minutes, taste and adjust seasoning. The stew base is now ready.
8. Shortly before you wish to eat, bring the base back to the boil. Add the mussels, cover and cook for about three minutes.
9. Then add the fish and the squid, cover again and simmer gently for a final 2-3 minutes until the mussels or clams have all opened (discard any that stay firmly shut).
10. Serve straight away in large bowls with rice or warm, crusty bread.