Portuguese Clam Chowder

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This hearty chowder is easy to make but it is expensive to prepare. That being said, if you can afford it, this is one-pot cooking at its finest and I make it a point to serve it at least once each summer. The chowder is traditionally made with salt cod, though any firm fresh fish can be substituted if you don't want to be bothered with soaking the salted variety. While I have my clams shucked at the fish market, the job can be easily done at home if you put the clams in the freezer and chill them until their hinge muscles relax. If you happen to have a fennel bulb in your fridge, by all means slice and cook it along with the onions. It makes a wonderful addition to the chowder. Another addition, not included in the recipe, is a cup or two of small shrimp or bay scallops. Because I serve this so infrequently, I tend to go all out when I make it and my chowder is light on potatoes and heavy on seafood. I like to serve it with a green salad and crusty bread and I've found the combination to be substantial enough to serve for guests. Here is how it is made.

Portuguese Clam Chowder...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspiredby Emeril LaGasse

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 to 8 ounces linguica, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
3 stalks celery, finely diced
2 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1-1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 dozen cherrystone clams, shucked, in their liquid
1/2 pound fresh cod or salt cod, soaked, rinsed and diced
2 cups chicken stock
4 cups dry white wine
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pan. When oil shimmers, add linguica and cook until it begins to render fat, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions and celery and continue to cook until vegetables wilt, about 3 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in tomatoes and garlic, saute for 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes, reserved clam liquid and salt cod. Add chicken stock and white wine. Season with salt and pepper. Bring liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add clams and parsley, cover, and continue simmering for 3 minutes. Ladle the chowder in a shallow bowl. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

If you have enjoyed your visit here, I hope you'll take a minute to...

      

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Dingle Fish Pie

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The name of this dish has been known to make an Irish eye or two smile. While there is no Dingle fish, there is a projecting land mass in Southwestern Ireland called the Dingle Peninsula. It juts into cold waters that teem with marine life and the surrounding hillsides support the crops and animals that have made the best of Irish cuisine so memorable. The National Geographic once designated the stunning peninsula the most beautiful place on earth, and over time it has drawn Viking hordes as well as Hollywood crews to its shores. The abundant charms of the peninsula have also spawned an influx of tourists who leave the area with memories of such Irish delights as the Dingle fish pie I'm featuring tonight. That name is actually a misnomer because this pie has no crust or potato topping. It is made with a variety of fish and shrimp that's napped with a reduction of wine and thick cream and finished with a blanket of fine Irish cheese. When properly cooked, the gratinee is scrumptious. It is also very easy to make and this recipe has the added benefit of being scaled to feed just two diners. I do, however, have two cautions to share with you. The first is very obvious - do not over cook the fish. The second is to use a firm, day old cooked potato that will not fall apart when it is tossed with the fish mixture. This is a meal you can have on the table in 30 minutes. It is also one that is suitable for guests if you double or triple the quantities recommended in the recipe. I hope those of you who observe meatless Monday or Lenten Fridays will give this dish a try. I really think you'll be pleased. Here is how my version of Dingle fish pie is made.

Dingle Fish Pie...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cod, cut in shrimp-size pieces
4 ounces salmon, cut in shrimp-size pieces
4 ounces peeled and deveined shrimp
8 ounces (1 large) cooked day old boiling potato, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup frozen small peas, thawed
1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt & Pepper to taste
4 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1) Heat olive oil in a large frying pan set over moderate heat. When it shimmers add garlic, cod, salmon and shrimp and saute just until fish whitens and shrimp begin to turn pink, about 3 minutes.
2) Add white wine and sherry and cook until nearly evaporated. Add cream, potatoes and peas and bring to a slow simmer. Cook until shrimp and fish are cone, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a gratin pan. Top with cheese and broil until cheese melts and is lightly brown, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately. Yield: 2 servings






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Crispy Fish Sticks with Broccoli-Carrot Slaw and Sweet Chili Sauce

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I found this recipe in Family Circle magazine over a year ago and I clipped it with the intention of testing it at some point during Lent. I want the book of life to note that I did get to it, albeit a year later than I had intended. The recipe caught my eye because the fish sticks looked appealingly crunchy and the breading used to coat them contained cornflakes as well as flour and bread crumbs. I was curious to see if the cornflakes would improve the texture of the fish sticks, which are baked rather than fried. They do. The recipe is figure friendly and it is a significant improvement on what would normally be a highly caloric meal. I'm happy to report that the fish sticks are terrific when prepared this way. I served them with a low-calorie broccoli slaw which is always a nice foil for fish. It takes about 30 minutes to assemble the various elements of this meal. The recipe is simple and those of you who fast and abstain during Lent might want to give this easy meal a try. Here's the recipe.

Crispy Fish Sticks with Coleslaw and Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Family Circle magazine

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup corn flake crumbs
3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 pound tilapia or cod fillets, cut into 1/2 x 3-inch strips
1/2 cup Thai-style sweet red chili sauce
1 scallion, chopped

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and coat with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Whisk together bread crumbs, corn flake crumbs and seasoned salt in a shallow dish. Place flour in a second dish and egg whites in a third dish.
3) Coat each fish strip with flour, dip in egg white and coat with bread crumb mixture. Place on prepared pan.
4) Coat breaded fish sticks with cooking spray. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
5) Combine chili sauce and scallion. Serve fish sticks with the chili dipping sauce and Broccoli-Carrot Slaw. Yield: 4 servings.

Broccoli-Carrot Slaw
In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add 1 bag (12 ounces) broccoli slaw, 1/2 cup shredded carrots and and 2 sliced scallions and toss to coat with dressing. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.













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Parmesan Baked Fish Fillets + Tartar Sauce

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is another simple recipe that is perfect for teaching children or other novice cooks their way around the kitchen. It uses a handful of common ingredients and a simple cooking technique to make a meal that can be table ready in 30 minutes. The baked fillets can be served as a dinner entree or placed on buns and spread with tartar sauce to make a really nice fish sandwich. Will this version ever replace its batter-fried coastal cousin? Probably not, but it is a quick and healthy alternative that is also easy to make. We were in a coastal community today and freshly caught Pacific cod was available at our favorite dock-side shanty. I couldn't resist the temptation and came home with a healthy stash of cod and crab for the larder. The cod fillets made wonderful sandwiches when prepared in this manner. While I used cod, any flat filleted fish works well in this recipe. I hope you'll try this. Here are the particulars.

Parmesan Baked Fish Fillets...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds thawed fresh or frozen fish fillets
3/4 cup fine dry Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
melted butter

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 525 degrees F. Grease a baking dish large enough to hold fish fillets in a single layer.
2) Combine milk and salt in a shallow bowl large enough for dipping fish fillets. Combine bread crumbs, paprika, and Parmesan cheese in another bowl.
3) Dip fish fillets into milk mixture then into crumb mixture. Firmly press crumb mixture into fish fillets. Arrange in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle melted butter over fillets. Bake on top shelf of oven for about 12 minutes, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Yield: 6 servings.


Tartar Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 tablespoon chopped capers
1-1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
dash ground cayenne pepper

Directions:
Combine all ingredients; stir until well blended. Chill thoroughly.
Serves 6 to 8.







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