Fisherman’s Stew

Chef: John Folse
Serves: 8-10 people

“The Sicilian fishermen arrived in New Orleans from Palermo in the late 1800s. They came following their civil war and ours to become laborers in the sugar cane fields, dock workers and fishermen. This is one of the many recipes they contributed to our culinary gumbo.”

Instructions:

• 1 pound redfish or snapper, cubed

• 1 pound (21–25 count) shrimp, head-on, peeled and deveined

• 2 dozen oysters, liquid reserved

• ¼ Cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ¼ Cup thinly sliced garlic

• 1 Cup thinly sliced onions

• 1 (16-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with juice

• 1 ½ cups sea water or seafood broth

• 1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans (white kidney beans) or Great Northern beans

• 1 Bay leaf

• ¼ Cup chopped basil

• Salt and red pepper flakes to taste

• Juice of ½ lime

• ¼ Cup thinly sliced green onions

• 1 Pound penne pasta, cooked

Directions:

1. In a 1-gallon Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. 

2. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not brown. 

3. Add onions and cook until wilted, 3–5 minutes.

4. Add tomatoes with juice and sea water (or seafood broth). 

5. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cook 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

6. Add beans, bay leaf and basil then cook 3–5 minutes. 

7. Season to taste using salt, red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lime juice. 

8. Cook until liquid is reduced by half volume. Add cubed fish, shrimp, oysters and oyster liquid. 

9. Cook until fish is tender and shrimp are pink and curled, 5–7 minutes. 

10. Add green onions and adjust seasonings if necessary. 

11. Once fish is cooked thoroughly, remove bay leaf. 

12. Add pasta and cook until heated through. Serve with an equal portion of pasta and seafood.