Basque Chicken And Shrimp In Wine Food

SHRIMP BISQUE

Steps:

• Twist off heads and peel the shrimp. Reserve the heads and shells and chop them for 30 seconds in a food processor. Devein the shrimp if necessary and refrigerate until needed.
• Cook the onion in butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat until it turns transulent, about 10 minutes. Add the chopped shrimp heads and shells, the tomatoes, wine and the broth. Cover the pot and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Strain the shrimp broth, discard the solids that don?t go through the strainer, and reserve the broth.
• Combine 2 cups of the shrimp broth with the rice in a small saucepan. Cover the pot and simmer the mixture gently, for about 30 minutes, until the rice is completely cooked - in fact overcooked and mushy.
• Puree the rice mixture, butter and remaining shrimp in a blender or food processor for 2 minutes. Combine the mixture with the rest of the shrimp broth. Bring the shrimp broth/ rice mixture to a simmer, whisk in the cream, and strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pot. Bring the soup back to a simmer, add the shrimp cubes, and season with salt and cayenne, to taste.
• If the soup seems too thick, you may have to dilute it slightly with a small amount of broth or water. Serve in hot bowls and sprinkle with chervil an parsley.

BASQUE CHICKEN AND SHRIMP IN WINE

Steps:

• If finishing in the oven: preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine seasoning mix ingredients and set aside.
• Remove all visible fat from chicken.
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix over chicken and rub in well.
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of seasoning mix over shrimp and rub in well.
• Heat oil in a heavy skillet over high heat.
• Add chicken pieces and brown on all sides, about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove chicken to a bowl or plate.
• Add ham to skillet and saute, stirring once or twice, about 2 minutes.
• Add onions and 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix.
• Cook until a crust begins to form on bottom of pan, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in flour and cook until crust begins to harden, about 3 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of wine.
• Stir and scrape bottom of pan to dissolve crust.
• Cook, scraping well, 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in stock, scrape pan, and bring to a boil.
• Stir in remaining seasoning mix and bring to a rolling boil.
• Whisk in remaining wine.
• Cook 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• To finish in oven: Place chicken and accumulated juices in an oven-proof casserole.
• Place shrimp on top.
• Pour sauce over them.
• Cover and bake until chicken is done, about 30 minutes.
• To finish on stovetop: Add chicken and accumulated juices back into skillet and stir.
• Add shrimp to skillet and stir.
• Spoon some sauce over chicken and shrimp.
• Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is done, about 30 minutes.

SMOKED CHICKEN AND SHRIMP BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill on high.
• Chicken: Poke 6 to 10 holes with a screwdriver through the top of 1 aluminum pan, and put the water soaked chips in bottom of second aluminum pan and top with a wire roasting rack. Put the pan with soaked chips on the preheated grill until a solid burn occurs, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-high. In a large bowl blend all the seasonings with the grapeseed oil. Toss the chicken with the blended seasoning, arrange on the rack in the smoker and cover with the aluminum pan with the holes. Smoke the chicken until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and let cool. After cooling, remove the skin, and shred the smoked breast by hand. Discard the bones.
• Bisque: In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the celery and onions, stirring throughout until the onions are translucent. Add the flour, and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour and butter become a paste (pan roux). Reduce the heat and add the stock, milk and cream. Cook until the mixture has thickened, about 20 minutes. Add the parsley, shrimp, garlic and shredded chicken and continue cooking for 10 minutes over low heat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls and serve.

SHRIMP BISQUE

Steps:

• Place the shrimp shells and seafood stock in a saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and reserve the stock. Add enough water to make 3 3/4 cups. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the leeks and cook them for 10 minutes over medium-low heat, or until the leeks are tender but not browned. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute. Add the cayenne pepper and shrimp and cook over medium to low heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the Cognac and cook for 1 minute, then the sherry and cook for 3 minutes longer. Transfer the shrimp and leeks to a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until coarsely pureed. In the same pot, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over medium-low heat for 1 minute, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the half-and-half and cook, stirring with a whisk, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the pureed shrimp, the stock, tomato paste, salt, and pepper and heat gently until hot but not boiling. Season, to taste, and serve hot. ;

CREAMY BASQUE SHRIMP SCAMPI

Steps:

• Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then dust with flour.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet. Add shrimp and cook over medium heat about 2 minutes per side.
• Remove shrimp from pan and drain the oil from pan.
• In the same skillet, warm the wine over low heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1 minute.
• Add butter, lemon juice, and heavy cream. Cook 1 or two minutes more.
• Sprinkle with parsley.

BASQUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place flour in a shallow dish. Dip chicken into flour to coat. In a large skillet cook chicken in hot oil over medium-high heat about 4 minutes or until chicken is browned, turning once. Remove chicken.
• Add sweet peppers, onion and garlic to skillet. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are nearly tender. Add paprika and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.
• Stir in undrained tomatoes, broth and olives (this is where I add about 1/8 cup wine). Bring to boiling. Return chicken to skillet, spooning tomato mixture over chicken. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Stir snipped oregano into tomato mixture. Spoon tomato mixture over chicken. If desired, garnish with some oregano leaves.