SEAFOOD STEW FOR TWO RECIPES

Steps:

• Thinly slice half of fennel bulb; set aside. Coarsely chop other half. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-low. Add chopped fennel, celery, leek, garlic, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft but have not taken on any color, 10–12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove shells and heads from all but 2 prawns (keep shells and heads for making broth).
• Once vegetables are soft, increase heat to medium and add prawn heads and shells and saffron (if using). Cook, stirring occasionally, until shells are bright pink, about 4 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add half of tomatoes and 4 cups water. Bring to a strong simmer, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until reduced by about one-third and flavors have melded, 60–70 minutes.
• Remove from heat and purée mixture with an immersion blender until smooth (or let cool slightly and purée in batches in a blender). Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring glass or bowl (you should have about 3½ cups).
• Wipe out pot and heat 2 Tbsp. oil over medium. Add fennel seeds, reserved sliced fennel, and remaining tomatoes, crushing them with your hands. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is softened and seeds are toasted, about 5 minutes. Add broth and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Season snapper and scallops with salt and pepper. Cook snapper, skin side down, pressing gently with the back of a spatula to ensure contact with pan, until skin is brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Turn fish and cook until cooked through, about 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate.
• Cook scallops in same skillet (no need to wipe out) until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side; transfer to plate with snapper.
• Slice squid bodies into ¼"-thick rings. Add cockles and mussels to pot with broth. Cook until they just start to open, then reduce heat to medium-low and add squid and all prawns, making sure they’re submerged in the liquid. Simmer until cockles and mussels are opened and prawns and squid are just cooked through, about 3 minutes (discard any cockles and mussels that do not open).
• Divide seafood stew between bowls, placing a head-on prawn on top of each; nestle snapper and scallops into broth and scatter tarragon sprigs over. Serve with bread and butter alongside for dipping into broth, if desired. Do Ahead: Broth can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

Steps:

• Blanch Roma Tomatoes for about 3 minutes - You can do this using the microwave, or a vegetable steamer ahead of time that is already boiling. Alternatively, use canned San Marzano Tomatoes.
• Prep all seafood by rinsing, and thawing if frozen.
• Heat dutch oven or saucepan on low heat for 3 minutes and add olive oil.
• Saute crushed garlic low heat for about two minutes being careful to not burn or brown excessively.
• Add tomatoes, fish stock, wine. salt, pepper, and lemon juice to the pot, then simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add seafood and simmer for about 5 minutes until just done. Stir in the parsley and basil and serve immediately.