FISH AND VEGETABLE SOUP WITH LIME, GINGER, AND CILANTRO

Fish and Vegetable Soup with Lime, Ginger, and Cilantro image

Yield Makes 10 (first-course) or 6 (main-course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 cup sliced shallots (about 1 3/4 ounces)
4 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 jalapeño chili, seeded, quartered
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups fish stock or bottle clam juice
2 cups water
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons minced fresh lemongrass or 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 whole star anise*
1 cup grated peeled carrots
1 cup mung bean sprouts
2 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps sliced (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
6 green onions, cut diagonally into 1-inch lengths
1 1/2 pounds assorted fish fillets (such as snapper, orange roughy, and sea bass), cut into 2x1-inch strips
1/2 cup cilantro leaves

Steps:

Grind first 4 ingredients in processor to coarse paste, stopping occasionally to scrape sides.
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add paste; sauté until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add stock, 2 cups water, 4 tablespoons lime juice, lemongrass, and star anise; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove star anise. Add carrots and next 4 ingredients; simmer 2 minutes. Add fish; cook until just opaque, stirring gently, about 3 minutes. Mix in cilantro and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
*Available at Asian markets and in the spice section of some supermarkets.