Serves a Crowd

Spicy Seafood & Fennel Soup

by:
March 20, 2013
5
1 Ratings
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

Though it has a lot of ingredients, this is a really simple dish that can be whipped up quick. I like to let it simmer a little longer, but in a pinch, all you need is an hour. The product is sweet, delicate fish steeped in a hot and super flavorful soup. And you can't get much closer to heaven than the leftover broth with a slice of grilled bread slathered in roasted garlic butter. —lisina

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Ingredients
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 heads of fennel, thinly sliced
  • 5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon heaping, red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup olive oil + 2 tbsp
  • 1/2 bottle, dry white wine
  • 16 ounces clam juice
  • 28 ounces crushed fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 quart chicken stock (preferably homemade)
  • 2 cups water
  • 16 shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 16 mussels, scrubbed, beard removed
  • 24 ounces halibut, cut into chunks (cod, mahi mahi or other firm fleshed white fish will work too)
  • fennel fronds for garnish
  • salt
Directions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, fennel, garlic and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and saute for about 8 minutes until veggies begin to soften
  2. Add white wine to deglaze and cook another two minutes. Add clam juice and tomatoes, chicken broth and water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low. Allow broth to simmer gently for about 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
  3. In a separate pan with a tight fitting lid, heat the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add the mussels and a ladleful of broth and cover. Allow the mussels to steam until they have all opened, about 5 or 6 minutes. Turn off the heat. Discard any mussels that have not opened.
  4. Meanwhile, add the shrimp and fish to the pot of broth, turning the heat up slightly so that the broth continues to simmer. Let the fish and shrimp simmer until just cooked through, about 4 minutes.
  5. Add the mussels and all their juice to the main pot and stir very gently to mix them into the stew.
  6. Top with fennel fronds and serve immediately.
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6 Reviews

lilroseglow November 27, 2013
We really enjoyed this, although 1 teaspoon of Red Pepper flakes was just right for us. We could taste the heat but it didn't overpower the seafood. Just a personal preference. It's a beautiful dish, thanks!
lisina November 28, 2013
i'm so glad you liked it! and that you adjusted it to your desired spiciness--i like the heat ;)
Waverly March 30, 2013
This sounds delicious.
lisina March 30, 2013
thank you!
inpatskitchen March 20, 2013
Oh yes!! just beautiful!!
lisina March 21, 2013
thanks pat! its one of my favorites :)