Fish Stew With Peppers Almonds And Saffron Food

FISH STEW WITH PEPPERS, ALMONDS AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy casserole.
• Add the onion, bell pepper strips and garlic and season with salt and black pepper.
• Cover and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rosemary, paprika and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the white wine and bring to a boil.
• Simmer until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, water and saffron water and bring to a boil.
• Cover the casserole tightly and cook over moderate heat for 5 minutes.
• Finely grind the almonds in a food processor.
• Stir the almonds into the stew and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Add the clams, cover and cook until most of them open, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer until the fish is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Discard the bay leaf.
• Transfer to bowls and serve.
• Serve with crusty bread and a nice rich wine.

FISH TAGINE WITH SAFFRON & ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for a few mins until soft. Meanwhile, put the saffron in the hot stock and leave to steep. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli to the pan and cook for a few mins more. Tip in the spices and tomato purée, stir for a few mins until fragrant, then add the tomatoes, ground almonds, orange zest and juice, honey and saffron-scented stock, making sure that you use all of the saffron strands. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has thickened a little.
• Add the fish to the pan, making sure the pieces are all nestled under the sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer on a low heat for 2-3 mins until just cooked. Check seasoning, add the coriander and scatter with the toasted almonds. Serve scattered with the chilli, along with some couscous and a blob of natural yogurt, if you like.

ALMOND-CRUSTED FISH WITH SAFFRON SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Season the fish and spread a little butter over the flesh side of each. Put in a shallow, buttered, ovenproof dish and sprinkle with the flaked almonds, lightly pressing them on. Bake for 12-15 mins until the flesh flakes easily.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Gently fry the shallot with a small knob of butter in a small pan. Add the stock and saffron, bring to the boil, then boil until reduced by about two-thirds. Stir in the crème fraîche and bubble for a minute or so until slightly thickened. Pour a little sauce around each portion of fish. Lovely served with tiny, buttered new potatoes and green beans, or a fresh green salad.