A good fish stew has three basic parts: the flavour base, the broth and the fish. Each is easy to master. This particular version highlights many of the bright flavours of the Mediterranean. Some would call it a bouillabaisse but I don’t because that makes it sound intimidating, fancy and difficult. It also inspires too many conversations about authenticity. Remember its just fish stew!

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Ingredients

1 fennel bulb, green tops and core removed, white part chopped
2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups Riesling or white wine
2 cups diced ripe or canned tomatoes
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
2 pinches saffron threads
3 bay leaves
4 cups fish, or chicken stock
Salt and Pepper
zest of one orange
12 ounces Halibut, cut into large chunks
12 ounecs haddock, cut into large chunks
for the toast
1/2 baguette loaf, sliced diagonally into 1/2″ slices
1 can anchovies
1 stick butter, softened
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
juice and zest of 1 lemon

Procedure

For the fish stew:

In a large soup pot, sauté the fennel, onions and garlic in the olive oil until they soften and smell wonderful. Pour in the wine and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes, fennel seeds, hot pepper flakes, saffron, bay leaves and fish stock then season with salt and pepper simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. This is just long enough for all the flavours to blend together. Add the orange zest and fish to the simmering soup and stir gently. Let simmer for 5 minutes and serve immediately with anchovy toast.

For the toast:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Put baguette slices onto a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 15 minutes until they are golden brown. Place anchovies, butter, parsley and lemon juice into the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth. Using a spatula, scrape butter into a small bowl. Spread the anchovy butter on the toasts and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or so.