Bouillabaisse with Seared Halibut

  4.7 – 3 reviews  • Soup
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 45 min
Active: 1 hr 45 min
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 1 small fennel bulb, bulb sliced and fronds reserved
  3. 1 small yellow onion, diced
  4. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  5. 1 teaspoon saffron threads
  6. 1 3/4 cups dry white wine
  7. 2 tablespoons licorice liqueur, such as Pernod
  8. 1 3/4 cups chopped fire-roasted tomatoes, with liquid
  9. 1 3/4 cups fish stock
  10. 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  11. 1 bay leaf
  12. 2/3 pound gold creamer potatoes
  13. 2/3 pound littleneck clams, in the shell
  14. 2/3 pound mussels, in the shell
  15. 1/3 pound U 21/25 shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail
  16. Four 6-ounce halibut fillets, boneless and skinless
  17. Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  18. 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  19. 3 scallions, chopped
  20. 1 lemon, cut into wedges
  21. Garlicky Rouille, for serving, recipe follows
  22. 1/3 pound fingerling potatoes, cooked
  23. 1/4 cup jarred fire-roasted red peppers
  24. 3 cloves garlic
  25. 1 cup mayonnaise
  26. 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  27. 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  28. Pinch cayenne, or as needed
  29. Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Set a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the fennel and onions, and cook, until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saffron, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Deglaze with the white wine and licorice liqueur, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce the liquid until it’s almost completely evaporated. Then add the tomatoes, fish stock, thyme and bay leaf. Add the potatoes, bring to a boil and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the clams and mussels and simmer for another 3 minutes to give them a head start. Add the shrimp, simmering until the shellfish open, a final 2 minutes. Discard any unopened shellfish. 
  2. Bring a large nonstick saute pan to medium-high heat and add the remaining oil. Pat the halibut fillets dry with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides generously with salt and pepper. Once the oil begins to smoke lightly, sear the halibut. Cook until the bottom is golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. Flip and finish cooking for 1 to 2 minutes on the second side. Remove the fish from pan, keep warm and set aside.
  3. To serve, place each halibut fillet in the bottom of a shallow serving bowl. Arrange a few potatoes, shrimp, clams and mussels around the fish in each bowl. Ladle broth into the bowls. Garnish with parsley, scallions, a few fennel fronds and lemon wedges. Serve immediately with Garlicky Rouille.
  4. Peel the potatoes and rough chop. Place the potato, red pepper and garlic into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until just coarsely chopped. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice and sweet paprika. Process until smooth and creamy. Season with cayenne and salt to taste. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill and allow the flavors to come together.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1096
Total Fat 65 g
Saturated Fat 10 g
Carbohydrates 43 g
Dietary Fiber 7 g
Sugar 7 g
Protein 64 g
Cholesterol 198 mg
Sodium 2163 mg

Reviews

Andrew Walker
Made this yesterday. Everyone loved it. I could not find clams so I doubled the shrimp. Will definitely do again. Made my own seafood stock and have enough frozen to do it again. Took all day making the seafood stock and roasting the tomatoes on the grill etc… but worth the time.
Kaitlyn Larsen
This was SO GOOD! My 15 and 19 year old thought so as well! The store I went to did not have clams, so I doubled the mussels. I thought I had saffron so I didn’t buy any, but it turned out that I didn’t, so I left it out. Also, I left out the licorice liquor since I didn’t have that. Peeling fingerling potatoes? Not my idea of fun either. Regardless, it was fabulous! Next time I would add more liquid for a saucier dish. But, I served with crusty french bread and olive oil. My kids suggested this being a regular Sunday dish! I can’t wait to make it with all the ingredients….lol…

 

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