Catalan Stew with Clams and Lobster
Submitted by Mark on Fri, 09/19/2014 - 8:01am.
1 hour 30 minutes
4-6 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lobsters, about 1 1/2 pounds each
- ¼ cup whole almonds
- ¼ cup hazelnuts
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 slices day-old bread from a large French or Italian loaf, crusts removed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 2 dried ñora chiles or 1 dried ancho chile, stems and seeds removed
- 1 fresh red Fresno chile, seeds removed and finely chopped
- 3 canned piquillo peppers, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon pimentón dulce (sweet Spanish paprika)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup fresh or canned tomato purée
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 12 littleneck clams or 24 manila clams, rinsed
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
PREPARATION
- Boil or steam lobsters for 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Crack shells, remove meat and cut into large chunks. Put shells in a large pot, cover with 10 cups water and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain, reserve broth and discard shells.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place almonds and hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast until fairly dark, about 12 to 15 minutes. Rub skins from hazelnuts; discard skins.
- Place a large, wide heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and add olive oil to depth of 1/4 inch. When oil is hot, fry bread slices slowly on both sides until crisp and golden, 5 to 6 minutes, adjusting heat if bread is browning too quickly. Remove bread, drain on paper towel and cut into rough 1/2-inch cubes; set aside. Pour off all but about 4 tablespoons oil (Save excess oil for another purpose.) Add onion to pot, season with salt and pepper and cook until onion is softened and lightly colored, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put dried ñora or ancho chiles in a small pot of water and simmer for about 15 minutes, until softened, then drain, discarding water.
- Put almonds, hazelnuts, fried bread, garlic, dried chiles, Fresno chiles, piquillo peppers and pimentón in a large mortar and pound to a rough paste. (You may use a food processor instead.)
- Add chile mixture to softened onions and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato purée and wine and simmer until mixture has dried out a bit. Add 8 cups lobster broth and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning. If too thick, add a little more broth. (May be prepared up to this point several hours ahead.)
- To serve, bring to a brisk simmer and add clams. When clams begin to open, add lobster meat and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in parsley and ladle the stew into 4 to 6 large soup bowls.
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