REDFISH COURTBOUILLON

Prep Time

• 30 mins

Cook Time

105 mins

TOTAL TIME
2 hours 15 mins

Recipe by: George Graham

Serves: 6 to 8

Ingredients

• 4 pounds redfish fillets
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups diced yellow onion
• 2 cups diced green bell pepper
• 2 cups diced celery
• 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup chopped ripe tomatoes
• 1 (10-ounce) can mild diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained, such as Rotel
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 4 cups seafood stock
• ½ cup dark roux
• 2 cups sliced smoked pork sausage (optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups diced green onion tops
• Dash of hot sauce
• 6 cups cooked Louisiana long-grain white rice, such as Supreme

Directions

1. Inspect the fish fillets for any pin bones and remove. Cut into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. In a large Dutch oven or cast-iron pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat, add the oil along with the onions, bell pepper, and celery. Cook until the onions turn translucent and add the parsley and garlic. Season with white pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Add the tomatoes, Rotel, tomato paste, and honey, and stir. Add the stock and stir in the roux until dissolved and the pot begins to boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and add the sausage and bay leaves to the pot. Cover the pot and let cook for 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Remove the lid and add the chopped rosemary, thyme, basil, and half the green onion tops, reserving the remaining green onion tops for garnish. Close the lid and cook for another 20 minutes. Remove the lid to taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
4. Just before serving, add the fish fillets and submerge in the sauce. Bring the pot to a simmer and let cook until the fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Be sure not to stir the fish to prevent it from breaking up.
5. For serving, ladle the redfish courtbouillon over a mound of rice in a shallow bowl and garnish with green onion tops. Serve with crusty French bread.
NOTES
Redfish can be substituted with a variety of flaky fish (catfish, snapper, drum, even tilapia will work). To source quality Louisiana seafood, go to Louisiana Direct Seafood. Fish fillets are delicate; do NOT stir the pot once the fish is added. I prefer boneless fillets, but if you are adventurous use whole fish. I like the infusion of smoke with the addition of smoked pork sausage, but you can leave it out. A touch of honey balances out the acidic tomatoes—be sure to include it. Feel free to use a quality, jarred roux like Rox’s Roux or make your own by following Rox’s roux recipe here.