Pesce En Brodo, In Brodo, Fish In Broth | The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures

TIP OF THE DAY: Pesce En Brodo, Fish In Broth

January 9, 2018 at 8:58 am · Filed under Fish-Seafood-Caviar, Healthier Options, Recipes, Tip Of The Day

Brodo di pesce, fish soup, is an Italian term for what has been made in coastal, lake and river communities for millennia.

Freshly-caught fish went into a pot with water and whatever vegetables were available to flavor it. Water plus vegetables equals vegetable broth.

Bouillabaisse, a traditional Provençal fish soup or stew (the difference), a recipe that originated in the port city of Marseille, France, and is the city’s signature dish.

Cooking anything en brodo simply means you are cooking it in a flavorful broth. It’s not just for fish: tortellini en brodo is a favorite Italian pasta dish.

Back to the fish:

As rustic fish stews/soups evolved, a variation emerged using pricier fish fillets instead of cheaper cuts. The fillets were poached in the already-prepared broth, and pesce en brodo, emerged.

(Note: brodo di pesce is fish broth, pesce en brodo is fish in a broth. If you see the term in brodo, it’s an American misspelling).

WHY PESCE EN BRODO BELONGS ON YOUR TABLE

It’s an easy way to cook flavorful fish. Any fillet will work. If your broth is prepared in advance, it takes just 10 minutes to poach the fish.

You consume more fish, in a preparation that is low in calories and flexible to use any ingredients on hand (open the fridge and throw in whatever vegetables and herbs you have).

You can add endless personal touches, starting with the broth: coconut, green curry, lemon, tomato, etc. For a hack, start with a carton of Swanson vegetable broth.

You can poach your greens alongside the fish.

You can add regional touches, from Creole to Italian to Thai.

You can top the fish with a garnish: cherry tomatoes, gremolata, nuts, pesto, salad [photo #1]), etc.

You can have fun with it, and make endless variations.

Pesce en brodo also accommodates different cooking techniques. You can poach the fish in the broth; or it can be broiled, grilled, or steamed*.

For extra points, can serve it with a crusty baguette or garlic bread.

There are many recipes for fish en brodo and fish in brodo online (a search for pesce en brodo will give you recipes in Italian). Or, Search generically for “fish” or for a specific fish (cod, snapper, etc.).

Here’s an easy recipe for the fish of your choice in a tomato-accented broth.

RECIPE: FISH IN TOMATO BROTH (PESCE EN BRODO DI POMODORO)

Ingredients For 4 Servings

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium tomatoes, sliced

2 shallots, in 1/4 inch slices

6 fresh thyme sprigs

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Optional vegetables (celery, fennel, spinach, etc.)

Optional greens garnish: arugula, baby spinach or watercress

Red snapper in coconut broth, with clams, vegetables and Chinese sausage, at Pakpao Thai | Dallas

Grilled Trout En Brodo
[2] Grilled trout set in a fish broth, at Pakpao Thai | Dallas.
Black Bass En Brodo
[3] Black bass in an herb brodo with droplets of basil olive oil, at Empire Diner | NYC.
Cod En Brodo
[4] A smaller first course, at Mihako’s 21 Grams.

1 pound skinless striped bass, red snapper, or halibut fillets, cut into 4 pieces

Preparation

1. COMBINE the wine, water and olive oil in a large skillet. Add the rest of the ingredients except the fish, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until the tomatoes soften.

2. PLACE the fish fillets in the skillet, spooning some of the broth over them. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.

3. LIFT the fish and tomatoes, using a slotted spoon, into shallow bowls. Discard the thyme and ladle the broth and shallots (and optional vegetables) into each bowl. Garnish with additional fresh thyme or other herbs, or with the optional greens garnish.

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*The difference between poaching and steaming: With poaching, the fish (or other food) must be completely submerged in the liquid. It is cooked by the hot liquid. With steaming, Steamed the food sits above the liquid in a steamer basket or other device. It is cooked by the steam.

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