Provençal Style Fish Soup With Garlic Toast Food

PROVENCAL FISH SOUP WITH SAFFRON ROUILLE

Steps:

• Wash leeks .
• Cook leeks, fennel bulb, carrots, celery, and garlic in oil with herbes de Provence, bay leaves, cayenne, saffron, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in an 8-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes.
• While vegetable mixture cooks, cut fish crosswise into 2- to 3-inch lengths.
• Add tomatoes, wine, and zest to vegetable mixture and bring to a boil, then boil 30 seconds. Add fish, water, and tomato paste and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until fish completely falls apart, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Arrange baguette slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown and thoroughly dried, about 20 minutes.
• Force soup through food mill into a large heavy pot, discarding solids. Reheat soup over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Mound rouille on croutons and put 1 in bottom of each soup bowl. Pour soup around croutons.

PROVENçAL-STYLE FISH SOUP WITH GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• Put tomatoes and capsicum in blender and process until smooth.
• Heat oil, garlic and fennel seeds in a large saucepan, stirring, over low heat, for about 3 minutes or until the garlic just begins to slightly turn golden.
• Add tomato mixture, stock and water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and prawns; simmer uncovered, for about 3 minutes or until fish is tender.
• For the garlic toast: Put garlic, oil and butter in a cup and microwave until melted (about 1 minute). Brush this mix onto bread. Grill until toasted and crisp on one side.
• Season soup with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with dill, to garnish, before serving.

FRENCH STYLE FISH SOUP

Steps:

• Bring base with fish stock and 1 clove garlic to a simmer. Add potatoes, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add half of saffron, peas and fish and simmer gently for 5 minutes or until fish is cooked through. Season to taste with salt and Tabasco. Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise with remaining garlic and saffron. Stir into soup, if you wish.

PROVENCAL GARLIC SOUP (AIGO BOUIDO)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients for the stock in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 30 minutes. Strain the stock, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
• Discard the solids and return the stock to the pot, keeping it at a simmer.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl until thick and sticky.
• Adding the olive oil a few drops at a time, continue whisking to form a mayonnaise.
• Immediately before serving, whisk a ladleful of the hot stock into the egg mixture, then whisk the egg mixture into the stock - do not boil.
• Garnish by floating a slice or two of toasted French bread topped with shredded cheese in the soup.

BOURRIDE SèTOISE - PROVENCE FISH SOUP WITH AïOLI

Steps:

• In a large pan bring to the boil the roughly chopped tomatoes and onions, 5 cloves of garlic, the thyme, saffron & orange zest.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil & one glass of white wine plus 1 litre of water.
• Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pound the remaining garlic to a puree in a pestle and mortar (or liquidise it if you are feeling lazy).
• Blend in 2 egg yolks and add salt and pepper.
• Gradually beat in the remaining olive oil in a thin stream, using a whisk, until you feel the aioli is thick enough.
• Add lemon juice to taste and leave on one side. (Reward yourself for your efforts by drinking the other glass of wine!).
• Cut the skinned and boned fish into 1" chunks and add it to the saucepan.
• Poach for 15 minutes.
• Then remove the fish with a draining spoon and keep warm.
• Sieve the stock and discard the *vegetables.
• Return the stock to the pan and reheat gently.
• Take about half of the aioli and beat the remaining egg yolk into it. Then slowly pour the warmed stock onto it, stirring constantly.
• Return this mixture to the pan and heat gently, stirring all the time, until it thickens slightly.
• It should be like rather thin custard. Don't let it boil, or it will curdle.
• Divide the cooked fish between serving bowls and pour the soup over it.
• Serve with thin slices of toasted French bread and the remaining aioli.
• NOTE: I serve the *vegetables - tomatoes, onions & garlic on the side as an extra vegetable.

FISH SOUP PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 1-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or skillet. Add the onions, leeks, garlic, red and green pepper and the saffron. Cook, stirring over medium high heat, until wilted.
• Add the wine, canned tomatoes, water, thyme, bay leaf, anise seed, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the fish and the mussels; stir gently; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Check for seasoning. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Make sure all the mussels are open. If not, cook a bit longer. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.

PROVENCAL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• To make the pistou: mix in the food processor the 1st 3 pistou ingredients until smooth, adding the extra virgin oil last.
• To make the soup: if using dried haricot beans,place in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a hard boil for 10 mins and drain. Place the par-boiled beans, or fresh beans if using, in a saucepan with the herbes de Provence and one of the garlic cloves. Add water to cover by 2.5 cm./1in. Boil, reduce heat and simmer over a medium low heat until tender, about 20 minuters for fresh breans and about 1 hour for dried beans. Set aside in the cooking liquid.
• In a large saucepan or flameproof casserole heat the oil. Add onion and leeks, cook for 5 minutes, stir occasionally, until onion softens.
• Add celery, carrots and the other garlic clove and cook, covered for 10 minutes, stirring.
• Add potatoes, French beans and water, then season lighlty with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, skim any foam that rises to the surface, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add courgettes, tomatoes and peas together with the reserved beans and their cooking liquid and simmer for 25-30mins, or until all the vegetables are tender. Add the spinach and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the soup and swirl a spoonful of pistou into each bowl. Garnish with basil and serve.