Ratatouille Seafood Chowder

THE BEST RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the bell peppers, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and the bell peppers have softened slightly, about 10 minutes. Add the eggplant, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue to cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring often, until the zucchini has softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the ratatouille has reached a thick stew-like consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and basil with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle with more fresh parsley and basil before serving.

RUSTIC FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add potatoes, corn, broth, salt, celery salt, pepper and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes. Mash potatoes slightly., Stir in cod and cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 6-8 minutes.

BOUILLABAISSE OR FULTON MARKET FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, saffron and basil in a large dish or bowl. Add the pieces of fish and shellfish to the oil and combine well so that all the fish and shellfish are equally coated with the marinade mixture. Refrigerate the fish and allow to marinate over night or for several hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Put the fish broth into a large soup pot or casserole that is stovetop safe, bring the stock to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Gently simmer the broth for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make croutons and rouille: Brush one side of each French bread slice with olive oil, sprinkle with cracked pepper, and toast in oven about 12 minutes or until crisp. For the rouille: Combine the cayenne pepper, garlic, sliced potato and hot broth in a saucepan and cook for 17 minutes or until the potato is cooked and soft. Transfer the mixture to a blender and, while pureeing, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Transfer this to a serving bowl and serve along side the croutons. Add the clams and mussels into the broth. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the clams begin to open. Season the lobster, shrimp and fish with salt and pepper and add to broth. Allow the fish to cook for 6 to 8 minutes after the broth has returned to a simmer. Do not boil the fish. Serve hot.

SAFE PASSAGE SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat, reserving the other 2 tablespoons. Sear each side of the halibut, leaving each side undisturbed for the first 2 minutes or so to allow the surface of the fish to begin to caramelize and to avoid tearing. Cook until done, about 6 to 8 more minutes, then remove to a utility platter. To the same pan add the shrimp and cook until just pink and remove to a bowl. To the same pan add the scallops and cook until opaque and remove to the bowl with the shrimp. Add the mussels to the pan along with 1/2 cup water. Cook until the mussels open. Remove them and the pan juices to a bowl until they are cool enough to handle. (Discard any mussels that do not open.)
• In the same saucepan, heat the other 2 tablespoons of olive oil and butter. Add the celery and onions, sauteing until translucent. Whisk in the flour gradually to make a roux. Add clam juice and fish stock and mix well to integrate flavors. Reduce heat to low and bring to a simmer. Add carrots and parsley and let cook until fork tender.
• While the soup is cooking, cut the halibut fillets into 1/2 inch chunks. Then, remove the mussels from their shells and discard shells, but reserving all the liquids in the bowl.
• When carrots are softened, remove soup from heat and gently fold in halibut, shrimp, scallops, mussels and liquid in the bowl. Season with salt, pepper and crab boil seasoning, to taste.

SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut the shrimp, scallops, and monkfish into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl with the crabmeat.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter; add the carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, and corn and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are barely cooked, stirring occasionally. Add the flour; reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the Seafood Stock and bring to a boil. Add the seafood; reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 7 to 10 minutes, until the fish is just cooked. Add the heavy cream, if desired, and the parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
• Warm the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery and saute for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add 1 1/2 quarts of water, the white wine, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. You can make up the difference with water or wine if you need to.

BEST SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large soup kettle or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels; reserve drippings. Saute onions in drippings until tender. Add potatoes and water; bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes., Add the scallops, lobster, shrimp, cod and haddock. Cook for 10 minutes or until scallops are opaque, shrimp turn pink and fish flakes easily with a fork. Add the butter, salt, parsley and curry powder. Stir in milk and evaporated milk; heat through. Garnish with bacon, additional parsley, and oyster crackers, if desired.

COCONUT SHRIMP CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add cayenne pepper. Stir in the broth, corn, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in coconut milk. Cool slightly., In a food processor, process soup in batches until blended. Return all to pan. Add shrimp; cook and stir over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Garnish servings with avocado.

NORTH PACIFIC CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. Saute onion and celery in the drippings. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender., Combine flour and cream until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the halibut, tarragon, salt, pepper and crumbled bacon. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with tarragon sprigs if desired.

FAVORITE FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute onion in butter. Add water and bring to a boil. Add potatoes; cook for 10 minutes. Add fish and lemon juice; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add milk, evaporated milk, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley.