Jim Bardsley's Catfish Courtbouillon

Categories: None

Serves: 1 Servings

Ingredients:

Cooked rice
Roux; (see below)
1 1/2 lb Catfish filets; cut in 2"
-pieces, (or as much as will
-be eaten immediately)
1 cn Progresso Crushed Tomato
-Puree
1 cn (large) whole tomatoes
1 Bell pepper; seeded, 1/2
-minced & 1/2 chopped
1/3 c Dried basil
1/3 c Dried Italian seasoning
1 tb Crushed red pepper
1 ts White pepper
1 ts Black pepper
1/2 c Red wine
1/2 c Dry sherry
3 Stalks celery; 1/5 minced,
-4/5 chopped
1 sm Bunch green onions; 1/5
-minced, 4/5 chopped
7 Cloves garlic; crushed and
-minced
1 Lemon; halved
Dried chipoltes; to taste

Instructions:
I'm a huge fan of chipoltes. I get dried chipoltes in big bags from
Pendery's in Ft. Worth ( my personal favorite spice store) and use them in
gumbos, soups, stews...anything with a liquid base that has to cook for a
while. They add a smoky hot subtle undercurrent to the dish- absolute
killer in my catfish courtbullion (recipe below).

Courtbouillon: In a 4 quart pot, combine tomatoes; basil; white, black &
red peppers; Italian seasoning; red wine; sherry; chopped celery & bell
pepper;dried chipoltes; and juice from 1/2 of squeezed lemon. Cover and
simmer for 1 to 3 hours. Add water as needed to maintain volume.

Rice: Prepare at least 2/3 cup cooked long grain white rice per person.
Cook according to directions for 20 minutes.

Microwave Roux

1/2 cup non flavored oil

1/2 cup white flour

Whisk oil and flour in a large Pyrex cup. Microwave 4 minutes on High and
whisk. Microwave 2 minutes on High and whisk. Repeat at 1 minute intervals
until dark brown. Cool 2 to 4 minutes. Whisk minced celery & bell pepper,
green onions and garlic into roux. Note: Commercially or regularly prepared
roux may be used.

Final Preparations: Stir roux mixture into courtbouillon. Add fish. DO NOT
STIR AFTER ADDING FISH AS IT BREAKS THE FISH. Cover and simmer for 15
minutes. Before serving, squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon on top of court
bouillon. (Do not stir!)

Service: Place a portion of rice in the center of each individual soup
bowl. Gently ladle catfish and courtbouillon over rice. Serve as an entree
with a robust red wine, green salad and French bread.

Leftovers: Remove and discard all fish pieces from courtbouillon before
refrigerating. Before serving, warm courtbouillon, add fresh catfish, cover
and simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice. Serve over rice.

Posted to CHILE-HEADS DIGEST by Jim Bardsley on May
21, 1998

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