Author Notes
The difference between bouillabaisse and any other fish soup lies in the combination of flavors beyond the seafood stock. A hint of saffron, an accent of zested orange, and a few sliced fennel bulbs and fronds bring out an essence from the seafood that would otherwise remain hidden. While they might seem simple, omit any one of these ingredients and the depth of flavor in your bouillabaisse will lose the complexity that earned it such a vibrant reputation.
My preference is a bouillabaisse with a small amount of tomato and generous amounts of fennel and saffron, so the recipe here reflects that. Feel free to experiment by adjusting the amounts of tomato, fennel, orange zest, and saffron to suit your own tastes. Ultimately, a balance of ingredients is the most important factor, as you're aiming for a soup with flavors like a symphony: all in tune but with each instrument only minutely recognizable. —Belle Année
Continue After Advertisement
Ingredients
- For the bouillabaisse:
-
2 to 3 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil
-
1
large onion, chopped
-
2
large tomatoes, coarsely chopped
-
4
garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
-
1
small bulb of fennel
-
1/4 cup
fennel fronds (plus a few extra for garnish)
-
1 pound
fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
-
2
bay leaves
-
1/4 teaspoon
saffron threads, soaked in 1 tablespoon warm water for at least 5 minutes
-
9 cups
seafood stock (homemade if possible, Bar Harbor if not)
-
1 tablespoon
orange zest
-
1/2 pound
large shrimp, peeled
-
1/2 pound
mussels, scrubbed and beards removed
-
1/2 pound
small hard-shelled clams, scrubbed
-
3 pounds
white fish fillets (such as red snapper, striped bass, grouper, and/or cod), cut into 2-inch pieces
-
1 1/2 tablespoons
coarse sea salt
-
1 tablespoon
Pastis (such as Pernod), optional
-
Parsley, chopped for garnish
-
Rouille spread over baguette crisps, recipe below
- For the rouille and baguette crisps:
-
1 cup
cubed baguette, most of the crust removed
-
3 tablespoons
water
-
4
large garlic cloves, divided
-
3 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil
-
2 tablespoons
bouillabaisse broth or seafood broth
-
Baguette
-
Extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
- For the bouillabaisse:
-
If making baguette crisps to serve alongside, heat the oven to 250º F.
-
Place a 6-8 quart stock pot over medium heat. Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom and after about 30 seconds add the chopped onion. Stir frequently and let cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion begins to turn translucent. Add the tomatoes and garlic at the same time and stir. Let cook for another 5 minutes. Add the fennel, fennel fronds, potatoes, bay leaf, saffron and soaking water, seafood stock, and orange zest. Let cook until it begins to softly boil. Taste for salt and pepper—add as needed.
-
If making rouille and baguette crisps to serve with your bouillabaisse, now is good time to start making them (see below)—just turn the burner to low while you do so. For the rouille, use 2 Tbsp of broth from your boiling pot.
-
Bring the heat back to medium, and add the shrimp, mussels, and clams. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the fish. Continue to cook until all of the seafood is just cooked through.
-
Remove the mollusks with tongs and set aside. Add the Pastis if you are using it. Give the soup a gentle stir and then ladle into individual serving bowls.
-
To serve: Add a few of each kind of the mollusk to each bowl, and then top with a sprinkle of parsley, a few fronds of fennel, and a slice of baguette topped with a generous helping of Rouille.
- For the rouille and baguette crisps:
-
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
-
Add the baguette pieces to a blender along with the water, two garlic cloves, olive oil, and bouillabaisse broth. Blend for 1 minute if using a very powerful blender (like a Vitamix or Blendtec) or 2 minutes if using a standard kitchen blender. If it is too thick to blend, add more bouillabaisse broth, one tablespoon at a time. Set aside.
-
Slice a baguette into 1/2-inch slices and spread evenly on baking tray. Toast for 5 to 10 minutes, removing when the slices just begin to brown.
-
Slightly smash the two remaining garlic cloves and rub one over each toast, then brush each with olive oil. Serve with a side of Rouille for dipping.
-
Note: Allow 3-4 crisps per person. One is usually served in the bouillabaisse, but it is also nice to serve a few on the side (even if that isn’t traditional).
Jessica Bride is the creator of Belle Année, a food and lifestyle blog dedicated to eating, drinking, living and loving in New Orleans and London.
See what other Food52ers are saying.