Italian Seafood Stew With Garlic Herb Croutons

ITALIAN SEAFOOD STEW WITH GARLIC-HERB CROUTONS

Steps:

• Discard any broken-shell or open (dead) clams. Place remaining clams in large container. Cover with 1 1/2 cups water and the vinegar. Let stand 30 minutes; drain. Scrub clams in cold water.
• Meanwhile, discard any broken-shell or open (dead) mussels. Scrub remaining mussels in cold water, removing any barnacles with a dull paring knife. Pull beard by giving it a tug (using a kitchen towel may help). If you have trouble removing it, use a pliers to grip and pull gently. Place mussels in large container. Cover with cool water. Agitate water with hand, then drain and discard water. Repeat several times until water runs clear; drain.
• Heat oven to 350°F. In 4-quart Dutch oven, mix clam juice, tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine and 1/2 cup of the pesto. Layer cod, shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams in Dutch oven. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until mussel and clam shells have opened.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix butter and remaining pesto until well blended. Spread on both sides of bread. On ungreased cookie sheet, place bread in single layer. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, until toasted on both sides.
• Discard any mussels or clams that don't open. Spoon stew into soup bowls; top with croutons.

SEAFOOD STEW WITH GARLIC ROUILLE CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the seafood stock: Heat the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, fennel, garlic, leeks and onions and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the ketchup, rosemary, thyme, and the crab and lobster shells and stir. Add the peppercorns and 16 cups (4 liters) water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 hours. Strain the stock into a smaller saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by two-thirds, about 45 minutes. Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper.
• For the roasted leeks and mushrooms: Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned, about 5 minutes more. Add the roasted peppers (along with any of their juices) and a ladle of seafood stock. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• For the rouille croutons: Soak 2 thick slices bread in the seafood stock. Squeeze out the liquid and add the bread to the food processor along with the garlic, chile and egg yolk. Buzz it up. Slowly add the olive oil while processing until a smooth paste forms. Add a little of the seafood stock if the rouille begins to split. Season with salt and pepper. Toast the remaining 4 to 6 slices bread (one for each serving) in a pan with olive oil over medium-high heat. Set aside.
• For the seafood stew: Return the seafood stock to a simmer and add the clams. Cook until they start to open, about 5 minutes. Add the mussels and cook until they open, another 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and lobster meat and simmer for 2 minutes. Before serving, add the peas to the leeks-mushroom mixture to warm them up. Spread the rouille on the toasted bread. Divide the leek-mushroom mixture among bowls, top with the crab meat, and then the seafood stew. Drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with a live scallop on the shell and sprinkle with chervil. Serve the rouille croutons on the side.

GARLIC-PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix butter, Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and salt together in a large, flat-bottomed bowl; add bread cubes and turn with a spatula to coat. Spread coated bread cubes onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool croutons completely before storing in an airtight container.

SEAFOOD STEW WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano and fennel seeds and sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, clam juice, white wine and liquid reserved from clams. Increase heat and boil until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Add clams, shrimp and crabmeat. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Mix in fresh basil and simmer until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 2 minutes longer. Season stew to taste with cayenne, salt and pepper.

GARLIC CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large saute pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add bread cubes, and toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until crisp and dry. Check frequently to prevent burning. Cool.

ITALIAN SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until onion is softened, 5 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes and return to a boil.
• Stir in clams and reduce to a rapid simmer. Cover and cook until clams open, about 7 minutes (discard any that don't open).
• Arrange fish in a single layer on top of stew. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit until fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve with parsley, if desired.

HERBED GARLIC AND PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the garlic, the oregano, the basil, the thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, the pepper, and the oil and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, and discard the garlic. In a bowl toss the bread cubes with the oil mixture, spread them in a jelly-roll pan, and bake them in ht e middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 8 minutes. Sprinkle the croutons with the Parmesan and bake them for 7 minutes more, or until they are golden. Sprinkle the croutons with the additional salt and let them cool. The croutons keep in an airtight container for 1 week. Serve the croutons as a topping for tossed green salad.

EASY ITALIAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees on Bake.
• Cut bread into 3/4 inch wide strips and lay them flat on an aluminum pan (I like to use scissors not knives).
• Drizzle olive oil onto bread, sprinkle herbs and cheese.
• Pop into the oven for 15-20 minutes.
• If you want to make mini croutons for salad, cut the bread into small cubes (instead of step one) and follow same procedure.

GARLIC HERB CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat oil and butter in pan add garlic to cook for 2 minutes.
• Add herbs, salt, pepper and pepper flakes.
• Remove from heat and toss in bread cubes to coat. Sprinkle on cheese. Toss to coat.
• Coat a cookie sheet pan with cooking spray.
• Spread cubes on pan in a single layer.
• Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until golden.
• Check frequently to prevent burning. Cool.