Seafood Ragout

CHEF JOHN'S DEVILED SHRIMP RAGU

Steps:

• Place shrimp shells into a saucepan with bay leaf and 1 pinch of smoked paprika over medium-low heat; cook and stir shells until they turn pink, about 5 minutes. Pour in water, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer shrimp stock for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Mix lemon juice, ketchup, brown sugar, ground chipotle pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, garlic, 1 pinch of salt, and cayenne pepper in a bowl.
• Strain shrimp stock into a bowl; discard shells and bay leaf. Whisk shrimp stock into ketchup mixture and set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat until small wisps of smoke rise from the skillet. Cook shrimp in the hot oil until bottom sides of shrimp are seared and browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in shrimp stock mixture and cook until shrimp are opaque, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a bowl using a slotted spoon, leaving sauce in skillet.
• Bring sauce to a boil and cook until sauce has reduced and thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in cold butter, turn off heat, and let residual heat of pan melt butter. Stir until butter has incorporated into sauce and sauce is slightly thickened.
• Stir shrimp into sauce and toss with chives. Serve shrimp with sauce.

SEAFOOD RAGOUT

Steps:

• To make coriander oil,place garlic and coriander in a food processor and process until finely minced,stopping machine to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.With the machine running,slowly pour in the oil,stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl,until the oil is fully incorporated.
• Add the tablespoon of kosher salt to 3 quarts of water in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.Add the carrots,fennel and zucchini.Return to a boil.Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.Skim the vegetables out with a slotted spoon and reserve.
• Pour the stock into a large stock pot.Cover and bring to a boil.Add the clams.Cover the pot. Cook for 2 minutes.Add the mussels.Cover and cook until the clams and mussels are just open,about 4 minutes.Add the favas or limas,allow to warm and then add the calamari and vegetables and stir them in. Cover the pot and return to a boil.Lower the heat slightly and cook,stirring occasionally,until the calamari are just white,about 5 minutes.Season with salt,if needed,and pepper.Bring to a boil and serve immediately.Pass coriander oil separately.

VEGETABLE RAGOûT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large nonstick pan. Add onion, pepper, celery, carrots, and beans. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender yet crisp, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, peas, artichokes, garlic, and tarragon and cook 2 minutes longer. Add tomato juice and bring to a simmer. Add spinach and simmer 1 minute longer. Season with salt to taste. Serve over couscous or rice, if desired.