Seafood Bruschetta Stew

Submitted by MariaLuisa

"This makes a chic and tasty Christmas Eve supper dish. Prepare the seafood ahead of time, and it only takes a few minutes. Scallops, crab or lobster would also be nice. Here in Italy we have fish stock bouillon cubes, which saves a lot of bother when preparing the fish stock. I think the saffron really adds to the visual appeal of the dish. Thanks to Giorgio Mistretta."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 17
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 8 mussels, scrubbed
• 400 g small clams (a little less than a pound)
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups fish stock
• 1⁄4 teaspoon saffron, ground or 1/2 teaspoon saffron thread
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 32 medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 8 small squid, cleaned and chopped into rings
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into small dice
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• 8 slices bread, coarse country style
• 1 garlic clove, sliced in two
• olive oil, for drizzling on the toast

directions

1. Steam open the mussels in a tablespoon of water, pluck out the meat, strain the liquor through a fine filter and discard the shells. Repeat the process for the clams.
2. In a large skillet melt the butter in the olive oil, add the shallot and saute until golden. Add the shellfish liquor, wine, cream, fish stock, saffron and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, cook together, and reduce a few minutes.
3. Add the squid, mussels, clams, shrimp, bell pepper and parsley to the skillet, and cook for a few more minutes over medium-low, until the shrimp and squid are cooked through.
4. Meanwhile, toast the bread, rub it with the garlic, and drizzle with oil. Place two slices on each plate or shallow soup bowl and ladle the seafood stew over the toast.
5. Buon appetito!