BLACK BASS WITH SCALLIONS IN GINGER NAGE

Black Bass With Scallions in Ginger Nage image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Time 1h45m

Yield Four servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 bottle white wine
4 cups water
1 cup white-wine vinegar
1 stalk celery coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic peeled
4 leeks cut into 2-inch chunks
3 fresh tomatoes quartered
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 small fennel bulb with some green attached, quartered
6 fresh mint leaves
10 fresh basil leaves
4 black bass fillets about 8 ounces each (red snapper or halibut can be substituted)
20 scallions trimmed
1 fresh tomato peeled seeded and diced
1 2 1/2-inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and cut into julienne strips
1 lemon peel and pith removed sections cut out from membranes and diced
10 fresh coriander leaves cut across into thin strips

Steps:

Combine the wine, water, vinegar, celery, garlic, leeks, the quartered tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, salt and cayenne in a large, wide pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Add the fennel, mint and basil and simmer for 20 minutes longer. Strain.
Return the broth to the pot and simmer. Add the fish and poach until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fish to 4 large soup plates. Add the scallions to the broth and blanch until just tender, about 2 minutes.
Arrange the scallions around the fish and top with the diced tomato, ginger, lemon and coriander. Ladle broth over the fish and serve immediately.