This heady stew is in the tradition of Italian Christmas Eve but borrows flavors from around the Mediterranean.
Ingredients
- 4 tsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb Large shrimp (21-25 per pound) peeled and de-veined
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1 medium Medium onion Chopped
- 1 large Large fennel bulb cored, quartered and sliced
- 8 cloves Garlic sliced
- 1 tbsp Fresh oregano chopped
- 1 tsp Dried basil
- 1/4 tsp Saffron thread crushed
- 1/2 cup Dry vermouth
- 3 cups Water
- 1 (14.5 ounce can) Petite tomatoes diced
- 24 Little neck clams scrubbed
- 24 Mussels scrubbed, beards removed
- 4 cup Seafood broth or clam juice
- 1 lb Codfish fillet cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tbsp Fresh parsley chopped
Recipe Details
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in stock pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper. Add half to the pot and cook until lightly browned, 1 minute per side; transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining shrimp to pot and repeat. Add remaining 2 tbsp oil to pot and add onion, fennel, garlic, oregano, basil, and saffron; cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, 4-5 minutes. Pour in the vermouth, bring to a boil and cook 1 minute. Add 1 cup water and tomatoes. Return to a boil, add the clams, cover and cook until clams open, 5-6 minutes. Transfer clams to bowl with shrimp. Add mussels to the pot, cover and cook until open, 2-3 minutes; transfer to bowl with shrimp.
- Pour remaining 2 cups water and broth into pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes. Add codfish, remaining 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper; gently cook 2-3 minutes until cod is nearly cooked through. Stir in parsley, then return shrimp, clams, and mussels to pot. Increase heat to medium high and cook until hot, 2 minutes. Serve.
What better time of year than your Christmas Eve fish dinner to enjoy this great dish.