Cod and Cockles in a Fresh Turmeric Broth

OH MY GOSH!

So simple to prepare. And so scrumptious!

At Carmel Valley Ranch, chef Tim Wood makes this dish with Monterey line-caught rock cod and Pacific Northwest cockles. You can refer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch (seafoodwatch.org) to find the best alternatives available in your area. 

 

Active Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Serves: 4

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 bulb fennel, cored and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 tablespoons ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
4-inch piece fresh turmeric, peeled and thinly sliced(I used powder which I mixed with the wine and then added to the above.)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup white wine
1 pound cockles or Prince Edward Island mussels (I used mussels)
Ciabatta or sourdough bread, thickly sliced (I used my Sweet Potato Biscuits.)
4 rock cod or other flaky white fish fillets (6 ounces each)
¼ bunch cilantro, chopped, plus ¼ bunch, whole (I used fennel fronds.)

1. Set a heavy, lidded pot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, onions, fennel, garlic and ginger to pot. Decrease heat to medium-low and cook until vegetables soften, 10 minutes. Add turmeric, season with salt and pepper, and cook until spice releases a little of its flavor, 5 minutes more. Add wine and increase heat to medium-high. Add cockles, cover with lid and cook until cockles are beginning to open, 5 minutes more.
2. Meanwhile, toast bread in oven or toaster oven.
3. Add fish fillets to pot, cover and let steam 8 minutes for medium to medium-rare fish. (Check occasionally to make sure pan has enough liquid, and add water if necessary.)
4. In a small bowl, combine remaining oil with chopped cilantro. To serve, top fish with cockle mixture and spoon some broth from pot overtop. Garnish with remaining cilantro. Drizzle bread with cilantro oil and serve on top of or alongside fish.

—Adapted from Tim Wood of Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, Calif.
~From The Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition