FISH STEW WITH PESTO

Fish Stew With Pesto image

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories dinner, soups and stews, main course

Time 1h

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 leeks, white part only, chopped
2 small fennel bulbs, stalks removed, bulbs chopped
1 sweet red pepper, seeded and chopped
6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 small hot fresh chili pepper, seeded and minced
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fish stock
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Salt
6 sprigs fresh thyme
18 small new potatoes, peeled and halved
2 cups cooked white beans
18 littleneck clams, scrubbed
18 mussels, scrubbed and debearded
3 1/2 pounds monkfish or blackfish, or some of both
Freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup prepared pesto

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large, heavy saute pan or casserole, at least six quarts capacity.
Add the onions, leeks, chopped fennel bulbs and red pepper and saute over medium heat until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic and chili pepper and saute for another minute. Then add the tomatoes, fish stock and wine. Season with a little salt, add the thyme, reduce heat to low and allow to cook for 20 minutes.
While the vegetable mixture is cooking, place the potatoes in a pot, cover with salted water and bring to a boil. Cook the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Fold the beans into the vegetable mixture, then tuck in the clams and mussels. Cut the fish into two-inch chunks and add them. Cover the casserole and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the clams and mussels have opened and the fish is cooked through.
Tuck the potatoes into the stew. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return to a simmer and serve in deep bowls or soup plates, with a dollop of pesto on top of each serving.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 408, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 39 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 33 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 1135 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams