Bouillabaisse With Orange Zest, Fennel and Saffron
- Total Time
- 1 hour
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
Advertisement
Ingredients
- 1tablespoon olive oil
- 2medium onions, roughly chopped
- Zest of 2 navel or other oranges
- 2teaspoons fennel seeds
- Big pinch saffron, optional
- 1dried chile, or cayenne to taste
- 128-ounce can of tomatoes, including juice
- 1 to 1½pounds monkfish, catfish, or blackfish, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3pounds hard-shell (littleneck) clams, cockles or mussels, well washed
- 1 to 1½pounds shrimp or scallops, cut into bite-size pieces if necessary
- 1 to 1½pounds cod or other delicate white-fleshed fish, cut into 6 large chunks
- 1tablespoon minced garlic
- 1cup roughly chopped parsley
Preparation
- Step 1
Put olive oil in a casserole or large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add zest, fennel, saffron and chili, and cook for about a minute. Add tomatoes, and turn heat to medium-high. When mixture boils, reduce heat to medium, and cook 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes sauce-like.
- Step 2
Add monkfish and raise heat to medium-high. When mixture boils, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the monkfish begins to lose its rubbery quality, 10 minutes or so.
- Step 3
Add clams, raise heat to high, and stir; when mixture boils, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until clams begin to open, 5 to 10 minutes. Add shrimp and white fish, stir, and cover. Cook, stirring gently once or twice, until white fish is just about done (a thin-bladed knife will pierce it with little resistance), about 5 minutes. (If mixture is very thick, add a cup or so of hot water.) Stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in parsley and serve, with crusty bread.
Private Notes
Cooking Notes
I had my guests begging for more with this version. We did go to the local fish monger for a few pounds of fish heads for the stock. It was incredibly delicious.
When I make this, I usually add a healthy shot of Pernod. If you use shrimp still in the shell, you can make a stock by boiling the shells in a couple cups of water (strain the stock before adding, of course). Both of these broaden the flavor base.
I've made this for Christmas Eve every year since the original printing of the recipe and I am ALWAYS wishing I made more. I use both clams and mussels (1.5 lb of each) for variety. We started making it because we do the Feast of the 7 Fishes, and this allows us to get in a good number of them! Absolutely fantastic recipe.
Just made this tonight and it was amazing. No monkfish available. Used halibut, cod, little necks and scallops. The cod disappeared a bit so next time may just use halibut. Loved the brightness of the orange zest, and the addition of minced garlic at the end of cooking balanced out the flavor.
I make a bouillabaisse-based fish soup using the broth leftover from steamed mussels with wine and andouille sausages, collected in frozen baggies. I add various fish chunks, such as hake and cod, and some nice solid fish. I make a rouille to stir in to taste and serve over crusty bread rounds with a huge salad.
Had to use what was available so that was catfish, halibut, scallops and pre-cooked frozen clams and mussels in shells. It turned out great! The mollusks frozen in their own juices saved time and added flavor. I also substituted parsley with chopped celery leaves adding some dry parsley to the wet leaves. About two cups, half added after onions, half at the end with the garlic. Delicious and bright. More than the three of us could eat! Halved seafood, kept all other amounts the same.
Made within 3/4 of a fennel bulb, 2 small potatoes (skinned, chopped into small cubes, and boiled separately until just barely soft). Used .7 lbs of cod and ~ 1/4 lb. Of shrimp. No call fro stock so used ~ 1/2 to 1 cup warm water.
Delicious version. I used haddock, monkfish, shrimp and squid plus added clam juice and shrimp-shells stock (as suggested by others). To extend the fennel flavor, I sauteed a sliced fennel bulb with onions and garlic at the beginning. Saffron and orange zest essential. I made the base ahead of time then reheated with more ground red pepper and added the seafood just before serving.
what abput a rouille, which usually accompanies the bouillabaisse???
This is lovely. Definitely add 2-3 cups of homemade fish stock and you won’t regret it. I made mine from shrimp shells and kombu. I only used one orange for zest and it was plenty. I personally don’t think the saffron is in any way optional :) Delicious.
I've made this for Christmas Eve every year since the original printing of the recipe and I am ALWAYS wishing I made more. I use both clams and mussels (1.5 lb of each) for variety. We started making it because we do the Feast of the 7 Fishes, and this allows us to get in a good number of them! Absolutely fantastic recipe.
Made this many times, always a winner.
Not sure why but this turned out disappointing - with a bitter aftertaste. Next time I'd put in less of the orange zest. Also seems to be missing something - I added fish sauce instead of salt, but still seemed less than stellar.
When I make this, I usually add a healthy shot of Pernod. If you use shrimp still in the shell, you can make a stock by boiling the shells in a couple cups of water (strain the stock before adding, of course). Both of these broaden the flavor base.
Made this yesterday and the flavors are fabulous. Used cod,mussels, shrimp, and a few scallops. So easy. Definitely a keeper.
I had my guests begging for more with this version. We did go to the local fish monger for a few pounds of fish heads for the stock. It was incredibly delicious.
As the French Fishermen do assemble what ever is the freshest fish available and you can't go wrong.
Advertisement