Deconstructed Bouillabaisse Food

QUICK "N" EASY BOUILLABAISSE FOR TWO

Steps:

• Cut lobster tail in half lengthwise, leaving shell intact, then cut into 1-inch pieces (still with shell on).
• Scrub mussels, remove beard.
• Shell and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact.
• Combine water and wine in pan, bring to a boil, add seafood, cover, simmer 5 minutes, drain, reserve 1 cup of the stock.
• Heat oil in pan, add garlic and onion cook, stirring until onion is soft.
• Add reserved stock, undrained crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sauces, sugar and saffron to pan.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, simmer 5 minutes , add seafood, heat through gently, serve immediately in bowls, sprinkled with parsley.

BOUILLABAISSE

Steps:

• Make the rouille: Puree the mayonnaise, roasted red peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and a pinch of salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Prepare the bouillabaisse: Grate the tomato flesh on the large holes of a box grater down to the skins; reserve the skins separately. Peel and devein the shrimp, reserving the shells and tails for the broth; clean and debeard the mussels. Refrigerate the seafood until ready to use.
• Make the broth: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp shells and tails and cook, stirring, until bright red, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the clam juice, 4 cups water, the reserved tomato skins, the orange zest and 1/4 cup of the sliced fennel. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium; simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 4 cups, 12 to 15 minutes. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract the liquid; reserve the broth.
• Wipe out the pot and heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining fennel, the shallot, garlic and a pinch of salt; partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fennel begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved grated tomato flesh and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the saffron, then add the wine and simmer until the liquid is reduced by about two-thirds, about 4 minutes. Add the reserved broth and return to a simmer.
• Add the mussels to the pot; cover and cook 4 minutes. Add any thick pieces of fish and cook, covered, 2 minutes. Add the remaining fish and the shrimp and cook, covered, until the mussels open and the fish and shrimp are just cooked through, 3 to 4 more minutes. (Discard any mussels that do not open.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread the baguette with the rouille and serve with the bouillabaisse. Sprinkle with parsley.

DECONSTRUCTED BOUILLABAISSE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat in a wide 2-qt saucepan. When it shimmers, add onion and fennel. Season with salt and pepper, and sweat 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and sweat another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the drained tomatoes and the wine. Raise heat to high and boil 2 minutes until wine begins to reduce.
• Add fish stock, saffron and bay leaf; bring back to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
• Pick over mussels, discarding any which are already open. Add mussels and shrimp to broth and stir. Cook 3 minutes until shrimp are pink and mussels open (discard any which remain closed).
• Salt and pepper both sides of the sea bass. Coat the bottom of a large nonstick skillet with olive oil. Heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the fish and cook 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden.
• Arrange baguette slices on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes until dry and golden; watch carefully to prevent overcooking.
• In a mini-food-processor, combine mayonnaise, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, roasted red peppers, salt and black pepper. Process until smooth.
• Using wide, shallow bowls, place 3 mussels and 3 rock shrimp in each bowl. Place a mound of vegetables in the center of the dish, and top with 1 piece of sea bass. Ladle broth around the fish and top with a fennel frond. Serve with rouille and toasts.

COMMANDER'S PALACE CREOLE BOUILLABAISSE

Steps:

• To make the broth base: Heat olive oil in a large pot; saute the garlic until golden.
• Add the crab and shrimp shells; saute for ten minutes.
• Add the rest of the vegetables and cook until tender, about 20 mintues.
• Add stock or water and wine, herbs and saffron; simmer for an hour.
• Puree in batches and strain.
• To make the bouillabaisse: In a large pan, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium heat and saute garlic until golden.
• Add mussels, shrimp, seafood sausage and fish; cook for about five minutes.
• Pour in the whie wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits.
• Add 8 cups of the broth and bring to a boil.
• In a medium pan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and saute the vegetables until tender.
• Add oysters and crab meat to the broth and seafood mixture.
• Add sauteed vegetables to the mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper.