Bouillabaisse Recipe

...if you do not happen to live on the Mediterranean, you cannot obtain the particular rockfish, gurnards, mullets, weavers, sea eels, wrasses, and breams which they [French experts] consider absolutely essential. But you can make an extremely good fish soup even if you have only frozen fish and canned clam juice to work with because the other essential flavoring of tomatoes, onions or leeks, garlic, herbs, and olive oil are always available."

--Julia Child

Yes, I know this is December. I know it is holiday season filled with traditions. There is a wonderful celebration, it is Bouillabaisse Day on 14 December. It is with a tip of my hat that I present my version of this most terrific “French Fisherman’s Stew”.

Bouillabaisse is a fish stew that originated in Marseilles, France around 600 B.C.. Yes, B.C. Marseilles was a Greek colony at this time and being such as known as "kakavia." Bouillabaisse also appears in Roman mythology as a soup that Venus feeds to Vulcan.

You may think that it is some mystical and complicated culinary creation. The truth, as you will see, is it is a simple dish. Use whatever fish you have access to. Shellfish is nice, but certainly not a necessity. This can be a GREAT new addition to your holiday menu. Follow the rules of Kashrut and it can be a wonderful main dish for Hanukkah. Add a couple more types of fish and you have all of the fish needed for an Italian Christmas Eve celebration.

1 leek, washed well and chopped
3-4 cloves garlic,chopped
1 large can of diced tomatoes, drained
6 cups/1.5 liters of water
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp fennel
2 pinches saffron
1 large piece of orange peel
About 3 pounds/1.35kg of assorted fish, We used: sword fish, halibut, lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

Saute leeks in olive oil for about 5 minutes until wilted but not browned.

Add garlic and tomatoes. Raise heat and cook for a few more minutes.

Add water, all the herbs and seasonings, orange peel and fish. At this point I placed in all the fish but the shellfish. Allow to cook at a moderate boil for about 30 minutes.

Add in the shell fish and allow to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Once the fish is cooked. Gently take the fish out and reserve to a platter. Using a strainer or sieve, strain the soup leaving just the tomato broth. Taste broth for seasoning.

To plate, plate fish and shellfish in bowl and ladle broth.

private chefs and event catering

Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach

info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232)

561-285-7466

www.yadachef.com

south florida catering and personal chefs

Jacques Pepin's Flatbread Recipe

I saw Chef Pepin make this on one of his shows, and thought, that is almost like the bread I used to make when I lived on the Beach in St. Augustine Florida and I had no yeast. I called it a cheat pizza dough, and I added tons of granulated garlic. Serves 6 1 1⁄2 cups/188g regular all purpose flour 1 cup/250ml water 1⁄4 teaspoon/2ml baking powder 1⁄4 teaspoon/2ml salt 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil 2 tablespoons/30ml water Dump everything (except the 2 tablespoons water) into a bowl and "stir it into a gooey stuff" as Jacques says. The dough will indeed be very wet, gooey, sticky. Stir in any optional ingredients. Heat a non-stick 10" / 25.4 cm skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into the pan and then pour in the dough. Spread into one flat layer with a spoon or spatula. (A little oil on the spoon or spatula helps keep the dough from sticking to it.) Add remaining water around the outside of the dough where it meets the pan; the o...

Ding Dong Cake Recipe

Ingredients For the cake: Cooking spray 3/4 cup/64g unsweetened natural cocoa powder 1 cup/237ml hot brewed coffee 2 cups/240g all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans 2 teaspoons/14g baking soda 1 teaspoon/5g kosher salt 1 teaspoon/5 baking powder 2 cups/250g granulated sugar 3/4 cup/180 vegetable oil 2 large eggs 1 cup/125nk whole milk 1 teaspoon/5ml vanilla extract For the ermine filling: 1 cup whole milk 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 pinch kosher salt 1 cup granulated sugar 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the ganache: 8 ounces dark chocolate (about 70%) or 1 1/3 cups bittersweet chocolate chips 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1 pinch kosher salt 1 cup heavy cream Instructions Make the cake: Arrange a rack in the...

How to Understand Fruit and Vegetable Lables

Be A Sticker Do not be confused on the codes you see when buying produce. These codes are often the bane of any supermarket checkout employee's existence. The four-, sometimes five-, digit code is punched in for each produce that is bought, signifying to the computer how much it either costs per pound or by number of items. While they are a pain to learn, the codes signify certain types of produce. 4 digit code starting with a 3 or 4 = conventionally grown 5 digit code starting with a 9 = organic 5 digit code starting with an 8 = genetically modified personal chefs and event catering Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) www.yadachef.com

Irish Coffee Pudding Recipe

This is a GREAT dessert, by one of my favourite celebrity cooks, Jennifer Paterson. She got this from an Irish family Serves 4 4 eggs 4 ounces/100g fine sugar (caster) 1 cup/250ml very strong coffee or espresso 1 tablespoon Irish whiskey 1 tablespoon/15g gelatin 1 cup/250ml double or whipping cream extra whipped cream and chopped walnuts Separate the yolks and whites. Put the yolks and half of the sugar into a bowl. Whisk until quite smooth, then add 3/4 of the coffee. Stand the bowl over a saucepan of hot, not boiling water and stir briskly until you achieve a custard and you can drag your finger through on the back of a spoon. Stir in the whiskey. Sprinkle the gelatin into the rest of the coffee and let it stand for 5 minutes, then dissolve it over hot water. Blend with the coffee custard and leave to cool and stiffen slightly. Whip the cream into peaks. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold in the remaining sugar...

Fresh Fruit Tartlet Recipe

Adapted from Jennifer Paterson Makes 8-10 Pie Crust 1 1/3 cup/167 grams all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon/2ml salt 1/2 cup/118ml vegetable (crisco) shortening 3-6 tablespoons/45-90ml iced water 2 ounces/60g bittersweet chocolate, melted 1/2 cup/121g cream cheese, room temperature 1 tablespoon/15ml heavy cream 3 teaspoons sugar 1 cap vanilla extract fresh berries apricot or strawberry jam, melted Line muffin tins with pastry. Prick with a fork to prevent puffing. Bake at 375F/190C/Gas5 for 10 minutes. When cool brush (paint) insides with melted chocolate. Let cool to harden (about 10 minutes). Whip together the cream cheese, heavy cream sugar and extract. Fill tartlet cases with cream cheese mixture. Top with pieces of fruit. Brush with melted jam. private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) 561-285-7466 www.yadachef.com south florida catering and personal chefs

PW's Breakfast Burritos Recipe

Ingredients 1 pound breakfast sausage 10 eggs 1/4 cup half-and-half 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, such as Lawry's Ground black pepper 12 flour tortillas Breakfast Potatoes, recipe follows Optional Garnishes: Grated Monterey Jack cheese Jarred jalapenos Hot sauce Breakfast Potatoes: 12 russet potatoes Canola oil, for frying Butter, for frying 1 large onion, cut into fine dice 1 green pepper, cut into fine dice 1 red pepper, cut into fine dice 1 yellow pepper, cut into fine dice Salt and ground black pepper Directions Begin by browning the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Drain off the grease and reduce the heat to low. Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add the half-and-half, seasoned salt and some pepper, and whisk to beat the eggs lightly. With the heat still on low, pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture. Now, with a spoon or spatula, very gently stir the mixture. Continue lightly cooking over low heat until the eggs ...

Quinoa Salad (keen was) Recipe

The first time I encountered quinoa I was living with my cousin in Manhattan on the lower east side. She was not the most handy person in the kitchen. When I walked in she yelled from her bedroom that the air-popper may be broken as she tried to “pop” the little seeds like you would pop corn and they got sucked into the air vents. This turned out well and since my day consisted of nothing but "creating at a desk"....I had time to sit down and eat. I added fresh tomato and left out the broccoli. Serves 4 2 ½ cups/625ml water or vegetable broth 2 cups/450ml quinoa 2 cups/450ml broccoli ¼ cup/59ml red bell pepper ¼ cup/59ml yellow bell pepper ¼ cup/60ml canola oil 2 tablespoons/30ml fresh lime juice ½ teaspoon/2ml salt ¼ teaspoon/1ml black pepper Bring water or broth to a boil (if using water add salt). Add quinoa, lower heat, cover and simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed (15-20 minutes). Add broccoli to quinoa the last 5 minutes and allow to steam on top to...

Chicken Provencal Recipe

Rich flavours and a hearty sauce will make everyone think you have been cooking for hours. Bone in chicken has more flavor and is the classic way to make this dish, but feel free to use a boneless piece. Serves 4 2 pounds/900g chicken leg quarters 1 teaspoon/5ml sea salt 1/2 teaspoon/2ml black pepper 1/3 cup/90ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125 dry white wine 2 medium onions chopped 1 clove garlic minced 8 ounces/225g baby bella mushrooms sliced 1/2 cup/125ml pureed tomatoes 2 tablespoons/30ml chopped parsley Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Thoroughly wash and pat dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper liberally on all sides. Brown chicken 4-5 minutes on both sides. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1/4 cup of the wine. Cook chicken for 10-12 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and 1/2 of the parsley cook for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Remove the chicken to a serving platter and add r...

Fusilli with Yellow Squash and Turkey Bacon Recipe

Serves 4 1 pound/450g fusilli (spiral pasta) 4 slices turkey bacon, cut into thin strips ½ teaspoon/2ml sea salt ¼ teaspoon/1ml black pepper 4 medium yellow squash , quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ½ cup/125ml heavy cream ¼ cup/15g grated Asiago cheese, plus more for serving Directions Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot. While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium. Add bacon, and cook until browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain (leave bacon fat in skillet). Increase heat to medium-high heat. Add squash and garlic to the skillet; season with salt and pepper, and toss well. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until squash begins to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add cream and cooked pasta to skillet; toss well, and cook until cream begins to thicken. ...

YaDa Chef Private and Personal Chefs

Search This Blog