Bouillabaisse
Photo: Nadin Sh on Pexels
French

Bouillabaisse

The great Marseille fish stew — a saffron-scented, deeply flavoured broth made from at least four species of Mediterranean fish and shellfish, served with rouille (saffron garlic aioli) and croûtons. A UNESCO-listed culinary tradition.

Total
50 min
Serves
6
Level
Hard

Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min

Ingredients

6 servings

Method

  1. Rouille: whisk egg yolks, garlic paste and saffron water. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly to form a thick aioli. Add lemon juice and salt. Refrigerate.

    About 5 min

  2. Sweat onion, leek and fennel in olive oil over medium heat for 12 minutes until softened. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, saffron water, thyme, bay, orange zest.

    About 11 min

  3. Pour in white wine and Pernod; boil 2 minutes. Add fish stock. Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes.

    About 11 min

  4. Add the firmest fish first (monkfish). Simmer 5 minutes. Add medium fish (red mullet, sea bass) and cook 3 minutes. Add prawns, mussels and clams last; cook 3–4 minutes until shells open. Discard any that don't open.

    About 11 min

  5. Taste the broth — it should be deeply savoury, saffron-golden and complex. Adjust seasoning.

    About 11 min

  6. Serve in the traditional manner: first pour the golden broth into wide bowls with some seafood. Spread rouille on croûtons and float them on the soup. The diner stirs the rouille into the broth.

    About 3 min

Nutrition per serving (estimate)

Calories
480
Protein
52 g
Carbs
22 g
Fat
20 g
Fibre
4 g
Sugar
6 g
Sodium
1100 mg

Contains: eggs, fish, shellfish

All French recipes

Recipe by Boon Tools.