AQUA PAZZA

Ingredients

For Fish

1 whole white fish or filet with skin (either branzino, snapper or sea bass)

Salt & pepper

1 teaspoon chopped tarragon

1 teaspoon olive oil

For Soup

6-8 little neck clams

2 sticks celery, cut

1 medium sized potato, cubed

2 cloves garlic, crushed

5-8 grape tomatoes

5-6 green olives

Salt & pepper

1 teaspoon olive oil

3/4 cup water used to blanch clams

1/4 cup chicken broth (alternatively fish broth or kelp broth)

For Garnish

Sliced paprika

1 teaspoon chopped tarragon

Preparation

1. Sprinkle fish with salt and set aside to drain on a paper towel for 15–20 min. This is to expel the excess water in the fish.
2. Remove drained fish from the paper towel and sprinkle with tarragon.
3. Wash clams with a brush thoroughly and soak in salted water in a stainless steel bowl, overnight. Instead of soaking clams overnight, you can blanch them in 2 cups of water.
4. Once the shells have opened, remove from the bottom of skillet and wash each clam individually in the same water used for blanching.
5. Strain the water into a separate container. This water will be used for the clam soup.
6. Cut all vegetables into small pieces.

Cooking

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet and add garlic, celery and olives. Sauté for 5–6 min. on medium heat.
2. Add clam soup (strained water from earlier), chicken broth and a potato and simmer until the potato is tender.
3. In a large frying pan heat olive oil and add fish. Fry on medium heat until fish is browned. Depending on the size of the fish it’ll take 5-8 min.
4. Add the entire soup content, including clams, tomatoes and paprika into frying pan. Cover and simmer on medium low for 5-7 min.
5. Add some salt and pepper to taste. Note: Fish and clams make a tasty and flavorful broth, so salt is usually not needed.

Nutrition Comments

Fish is rich in protein and low in fat. The fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EDP. Clams contain a lot of minerals and taurine that helps reduce and stabilize high blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, fortify the liver and can also act as a preventative means for diabetes.