Zuppa Di Pesce

This is another non vegetarian Mediterranean seafood recipes that's absolutely yummy! Every time I've made this for dinner guests it's been a big hit. This is another must dish to try if your a seafood lover.

Ingredients;

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

2 medium sized leeks, chopped

2/3 cup fennel

4 cloves of garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

4 1/2 cups of vegetable stock

1/2 cups of good quality white wine

1 can (14 1/2 oz) tomatoes with juice

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp saffron ( optional)

1 bay leaf

12 clams, washed and scrubbed

8 oz, large shrimp, shelled and deveined

8 oz firm fresh cod fish

minced fresh basil

Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add leeks, fennel, garlic, salt and pepper and saute, stirring occasionally for 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine, stock, tomatoes, thyme, saffron and bay leaf. Bring everything to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer the soup covered for 20 minutes.

Add clams to the saucepan once the 20 minutes are up. Cover the pan and continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until the clams have all opened up. discard any clams that have not opened. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked clams from the water and place them in a dish covering them loosely with tin foil. Add shrimp and fish to the soup and simmer for 3 minutes or until cooked through. Remove the pan from the stove and discard the bay leaf. Ladle the soup into separate bowls and top each bowl with 3 clams. You can sprinkle some chopped basil on top if desired.