Hearts Of Fennel With Lemon And Coriander Food

SEAFOOD IN FENNEL BROTH

Steps:

• Preheat a wood-burning or regular oven to 500 degrees. (If using a regular oven, set rack in lowest position and line with a pizza stone or metal baking sheet.)
• In a large ovenproof braiser pan or straight-sided skillet, combine oil, butter, chopped fennel, shallots, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt. Roast (on pizza stone, if using) until vegetables sizzle and turn golden in places, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in paprika, cumin, and coriander; roast 1 minute more. Add vermouth; roast until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes. Add clam stock and clams; cover and roast until clams open, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer clams to a bowl, discarding any unopened ones; cover to keep warm. Gently stir fish, shrimp, and beans into pan; continue roasting, stirring once, until fish is just cooked through and shrimp are opaque, about 5 minutes more. Remove from oven. Stir in lemon juice, return clams to pan, sprinkle with parsley and fennel fronds, and serve.

HEARTS OF FENNEL WITH LEMON AND CORIANDER

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the fennel for 15 minutes, or until it is barely tender. Transfer the fennel to a cutting board, let it cool, and cut it lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. In a large skillet heat the oil and the butter over moderately high heat until the butter is foaming and in the fat sauté the fennel slices for 3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden. Sprinkle the fennel with the lemon juice, the coriander, and salt and pepper to taste, divide it between 2 plates, and garnish it with the reserved fennel leaves.