Wednesday, June 20, 2012

HOT SOUP: An Italian friend who gave me this recipe years ago swore that it is a very popular soup in her country.




TTORO---ITALIAN FISH SOUP:





1 kg. mixed fish, such as monkfish, hake, cod or halibut

3 cups mussels

6 large scampi, optional

1/3 cup olive oil                                              

2 onions, sliced

5 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped                                   

1 ½ cups dry white wine

6 cups water                                                   

¼ tsp cayenne pepper 

1 tsp. paprika                                                  

¼ cup all purpose flour                                   

2 tbsp. chopped parsley                                  

salt & pepper to taste              

12 to 14 round slices of bread, fried in oil, then rubbed in garlic





Prepare a "bouquet garni" by wrapping 6 peppercorn, 4 parsley stalks, 1 celery stalk, 1 bay leaf in several layers of cheesecloth and tie up with strings.



Cut off and discard the fins from the fish, scale, wash and dry fish; and cut into pieces, reserving the heads and tails. Clean the mussels and scampi if using.




In a large pot, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium heat until hot and cook onion and garlic  for 5 minutes, or until soft but not browned. Add bouquet garni and the white wine. Turn heat up to high and boil the mixture until reduced by half.



Stir in the water, fish heads and tails, tomatoes, paprika, salt to taste and a pinch of cayenne pepper.  Cover pot and bring to a boil again, then reduce heat and simmer mixture for 1 hour. Strain and reserve fish stock.



Sprinkle fish with salt and the rest of the cayenne pepper and coat pieces lightly with flour, shaking off any excess.  In a flameproof casserole over medium-high heat, heat remaining oil and quickly brown the fish on both sides. Drain off excess oil from the pan and pour in the fish stock.  Add the scampi, if using, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add mussels and simmer 5 minutes more or until the mussels open and the fish is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.  



Pour soup into a large casserole dish.  Sprinkle with parsley and arrange a few fried bread pieces around the edge of the casserole to serve. Pass the remaining bread pieces around.

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