Louisiana Court Bouillon Or Cajun Court Bouillon Food

LOUISIANA COURT-BOUILLON (OR CAJUN COURT BOUILLON)

Steps:

• Cut fish into 3 inch chunks and sprinkle with creole seasoning. Set in fridge.
• Cook veggies in butter until tender.
• Add roux (either use 4 tablespoons flour browned in a pan or oven or make with 4 tablespoons flour browned in 3 tablespoons butter).
• Add bay leaves.
• Add stock, tomatoes, other liquid ingredients and salt and pepper. Note: chicken stock or clam juice (or both) can be used if you have no fish stock.
• Simmer 20 minutes.
• Add fish, seasonings, and parsley and simmer gently for 15 more minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve with rice in bowl.

CAJUN FISH COURT-BOUILLON FROM GREAT-GRANDMA

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat a large heavy pot over medium heat.
• When the pot is hot, add oil and heat for a minute or so, then add the flour and make a roux by stirring constantly for at least 10 minutes, and up to 30 minutes. It should be a nice medium to dark brown.
• Add the onion, salt, and pepper and cook for 10 minutes, until onions are softened (or "withered" as Grandma would say).
• Add hot water and bring to a boil, stirring to incorporate water into the roux. Add tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, and green onions and bring to a boil.
• Add the fish, gently stir, reduce heat to low, and simmer over low heat for 1 hour (fish fillets will break into pieces during cooking).
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve with bread.

COURT BOUILLON (PRONOUNCED KOO-BEE-YON)

Steps:

• Quick and easy method -- Put all ingredients into a large soup pot and simmer over low heat.
• It doesn't matter if the herbs are fresh or dried for this method. It takes about 1/2 hour to meld the flavors, but it's better to bring this rich soup/stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for at least 30 minutes.
• Toward the end of the cooking time, add lemon juice or wine. It really enhances the flavors and helps to keep the fish firm and not discolored.
• Serve the stew over hot rice in individual bowls.
• Traditional method -- Use approximately 2 pounds of your favorite fish. In the New Orleans area, red snapper is usually the fish chosen. Sometimes catfish is chosen. But any fish is delicious!
• In a cast iron skillet, make a roux by melting butter, then slowly stirring in flour until it becomes dark brown in color. Don't burn! The roux will thicken the stew and give it good flavor. Set aside.
• In a large pot, place all other ingredients and slowly add the cooked roux to this mixture, stirring constantly until combined well and the soup is thickened. If you like, you may brown the onions in another skillet before adding to this mixture.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for approximately ten to fifteen minutes or until fish flakes easily. Or, you may leave the pot uncovered and allow the stew to cook down a bit, depending upon your taste.
• Adjust seasonings.
• Serve the stew over hot rice in individual bowls.
• NOTE: Here are different ways for preparing the fish.
• FRESH WATER FISH -- saute in 1 tablespoon butter, then add to stock.
• LOBSTER TAILS -- blanch or steam halfway, then run under the broiler to finish and keep them from toughening. Add to the completed stock.
• CRAB AND SHRIMP -- Undercook and let finish cooking in the cooled stock to impart the best flavor.

CREOLE REDFISH COURT-BOUILLON

Steps:

• Heat the 1/2 cup of the oil in a Dutch oven or large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the flour, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon, to make a roux the color of peanut butter, about 15 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and bay leaves, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Place the tomato paste in a small bowl and whisk in the sherry to blend. Add to the pot, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the stock, whisking to blend. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring, occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low then whisk in the butter, bit by bit, until incorporated. Remove from the heat, taste, and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Preheat a grill to medium. To grill the fish, brush the fish all over with the olive oil and season the fish with the Essence. Grill the fish, basting occasionally with additional olive oil for about 8 minutes. Turn the fish and grill briefly on the second side. Return the court bouillon to the heat, add the fish, and simmer until just cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes longer. To serve, spoon 1/2 cup of rice into the center of six large soup bowls and divide the red fish court bouillon equally among them. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley or green onion.