Cod Braised In Savory Lobster Broth With Leeks Mushrooms And Lobster Food

POOR MAN'S LOBSTER (BUTTER BAKED COD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Arrange fish in a shallow casserole; pour half the melted butter over the fillets.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.
• Place the fish in the oven and bake, uncovered, basting occasionally, until the fish flakes with fork, about 15-20 minutes.
• Garnish with parsley; serve with lemon slices and the remaining melted butter for dipping.

BRAISED BEEF CHEEKS WITH LOBSTER MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 250°F.
• Heat the beef stock in a medium pan over low heat and keep warm.
• Season the beef cheeks with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper, and sprinkle the flour evenly all over.
• Put a large Dutch oven or wide-bottomed stock pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons of the oil and enough of the beef chunks to make a roomy single layer in the pan. Cook, turning the beef as needed, until browned all over, about 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and repeat with the remaining beef, working in batches as necessary and adding another tablespoon or so of oil if the pot seems too dry.
• Add 2 tablespoons more olive oil to the pan, then add the onions. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan, until they start to soften and are barely brown on the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrots, celery root, thyme, bay leaves, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the celery root starts to soften, about 6 minutes.
• Return the beef and any accumulated juices back to the pot. Stir well for another minute or so to combine.
• Add the wine and bring just to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and continue to simmer for 5 minutes. Add the warm stock; once the liquid has returned to a simmer, cover the pot and transfer to the oven.
• Bake for 4 hours, checking every hour to make sure the liquid is at a bare simmer. (The key to tenderness is to cook at the lowest temperature possible. If the broth is simmering rapidly, reduce the oven temperature.)
• After 4 hours, remove the lid and stir. The stew should be very wet; if not, add a cup or so of water to reliquify. Return the uncovered pot to the oven. Continue to bake until the beef is completely tender and offers no resistance when you pull it apart with two forks, 1 to 2 more hours. If the beef is tender but the liquid has not reduced much, continue to bake until the liquid is 3/4 to 1 inch lower than the original level. Taste the liquid and season with more salt as needed.
• When the beef is done, set aside while you cook the mushrooms.
• (If you make this a day ahead, let cool to room temperature before you cover and refrigerate the cheeks. When ready to serve, reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently until heated through, 30 to 45 minutes.)
• Using a small knife, scrape any dirt off of the mushrooms. If they are particularly large, cut them into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces.
• Put 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet (it should be large enough to hold the mushrooms in a single layer) and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling, add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms' juices have released and evaporated. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the shallot and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and continue sautéing for an additional minute. Add the vinegar and stir until the liquid evaporates. Add the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Arrange the beef in shallow bowls and ladle some of the braising liquid over it. Top with the sautéed mushrooms.
• You may need to special order beef cheeks (a specialty butcher is your best bet), but you can substitute with brisket if you can't find cheeks. The glands are marble-size organs that are attached to the cheeks (they may already have been removed from the ones you have).

BROTHY COD WITH PEAS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add mushrooms and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Add couscous and stir until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Add clam juice and 5 cups water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until couscous is al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Add cod and peas and bring back to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fish is flaky and and cooked through and couscous is tender, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in scallions and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide cod, vegetables and couscous across bowls, and top off with remaining broth. Serve warm.

COD BRAISED IN SAVORY LOBSTER BROTH, WITH LEEKS, MUSHROOMS AND LOBSTER

Steps:

• To cook the lobster, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lobster, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lobster and set it aside to cool. Reserving the shells, remove the meat from the tail and claws and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks and refrigerate. Split the body shell in half and remove the head sac. Cut the body into smaller pieces. Set aside.
• To make the broth, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the lobster shells in a metal roasting pan with the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring twice, then transfer the shells and vegetables to a large pot.
• Place the roasting pan over medium-high heat and deglaze with a 1/2 cup of the water. Add this liquid and the wine and tomato paste to a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Skim the broth, then reduce to a simmer. Add tarragon, thyme, pepper flakes, saffron, peppercorns and bay leaves. Partially cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Strain and season with salt and pepper.
• To make the cod, trim the fish if needed and check for bones. Keep refrigerated. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots, leeks and mushrooms and saute until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the lobster broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Season the cod with salt and pepper and place in the pan. Cover and cook until just cooked through, about 8 minutes. Add the lobster meat, re-cover, remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the cod and divide among 4 soup plates. Arrange the vegetables and lobster meat around the fish and spoon the broth over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with toasted, crusty bread