California bouillabaisse

8 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
½cupOil
2Garlic cloves; minced
1largeOnion; sliced
2smallsLeeks; thinly sliced
1Bay leaf
2cupsPeeled and chopped tomatoes
2cupsFish stock =OR=- half water and half bottled clam juice
1cupDry white wine
¼cupChopped fresh fennel; -=OR=- Crushed fennel seeds
teaspoonCrushed saffron threads
1teaspoonSalt
¼teaspoonBlack pepper
2tablespoonsMinced parsley
2Lobster tails split through shells
1poundsRed snapper; cut in chunks
1poundsHalibut or sea bass chunks
12mediumsShrimp
6Dungeness crab legs
6Clams
6Oysters
6Mussels
Crusty bread (optional)

Directions

Heat oil in large pot. Add garlic, onion, leeks and bay leaf and cook until onion is tender but not browned. Add tomatoes, stock, wine, fennel, saffron, salt, pepper and parsley. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes. Add lobster, snapper and halibut and cook 10 minutes. Rinse shrimp and crab and scrub clams, oysters and mussels. Add shellfish to pot and cook 5 minutes or until shells open. Ladle into large soup plates and serve with crusty bread, if desired.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

(C) 1992 The Los Angeles Times