Monkfish And Clam Bourride Food

MONKFISH AND CLAM BOURRIDE

Steps:

• Quarter potatoes, then cover by 1 inch with salted cold water in a 3-quart saucepan and simmer, covered, until just tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander, then cool.
• Wash leeks in a bowl of cold water, agitating water to loosen any sand, and lift leeks from water to a sieve to drain. Pat dry.
• Pat monkfish dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear monkfish lightly on all sides until golden, about 2 minutes total (fish will not be cooked through). Transfer fish to a plate using tongs.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil from slow-braised tomatoes in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté leeks, fennel, and shallots, stirring, until softened and edges begin to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add sliced garlic and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add clams, wine, water, red pepper flakes, zest, and tomato halves and cook, covered, until clams are fully open, 6 to 10 minutes, checking every minute after 6 minutes and removing clams as they fully open. (Discard any clams that have not opened after 10 minutes.) Using tongs, transfer clams to a large bowl or soup tureen.
• Add monkfish and potatoes to skillet and simmer, covered, until fish is just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil and parsley. Season with salt and pour over clams.
• While monkfish is cooking, rub one side of each toast with a cut side of halved garlic clove. Divide bourride among 4 shallow bowls. Add a garlic toast and top with a spoonful each of aïoli and tapenade.

SLOW-BRAISED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Cook onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil and red pepper flakes.
• Toss tomatoes with sugar and salt in a bowl. Arrange tomatoes, cut sides down, in a roasting or baking pan (13- by 9-inch). Spoon onion mixture over tomatoes and add enough of remaining 3/4 cup olive oil to reach halfway up tomatoes. Braise in middle of oven, stirring gently halfway through cooking, until tomatoes are very tender but not falling apart, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.