Bookbinder Red Snapper Soup

Hey Jude's Note:

This soup has been served at the Drake Hotel in Chicago since it opened for business in 1933. The Drake adapted it from the snapper soup from Bookbinders restaurant in Philadelphia, using RED snapper instead of turtle. Recipe is from the Chicago Tribune Good Eating Cookbook.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 40 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

SOUP BASE

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
• 12 white peppercorns or 12 black peppercorns, crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• salt

RED SNAPPER

• 2 small onions, chopped fine
• 3 celery ribs, chopped fine
• 1 -2 red snapper fillet (10 oz.)
• 1/4 cup sherry wine (optional)

Directions:

1. To make soup base, heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add carrots, celery, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes.
2. Stir in peppercorns, bay leaf, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, and cilantro; cook 2 minutes and add 7 cups of the vegetable broth; heat to boil.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan; add flour and cornstarch, cook, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Slowly whisk in remaining 1 cup broth until mixture is smooth; add mixture to soup base; cover and simmer over medium-low heat 20 minutes.
5. Taste and adjust seasonings.
6. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth; discard solids and return broth to pot.
7. To make snapper, heat water to boil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat; add onions and celery; blanch until soft, about 3 minutes.
8. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to broth.
9. Boil fish in the same water until cooked through.
10. Remove fish from water; flake very finely with a fork.
11. Stir snapper and sherry, if desired, into soup base; heat through.

Reviews

[Robert Wiar]

I would just suggest that the sherry be served to the table separately, to be added just before eating. This is the traditional service, and adds a little flair to this wonderful receipe. Thank you.