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Fish in Parchment with Manhattan Clam Chowder

Servings

2

Serving size

4 ounces fish with vegetables
COOKING TIME
75 Minutes

This recipe can easily be multiplied and makes great leftovers.

Fish in Parchment with Manhattan Clam Chowder

Ingredients

8 small Fresh clams
3 cup Water
2 tsp. Olive oil
1 clove Garlic, raw (minced)
1 small White onions (red onion, finely diced)
1 Medium stalk Celery, raw (finely diced)
6 ounce Grape or cherry tomatoes
1 leaf Bay leaves
1/4 tsp., leaves Dried oregano
1/16 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
1/8 tsp., leaves Dried thyme
6 ounces Red potatoes (cut into small dice)
8 ounces Fresh trout (2 4-ounce filets)(redfish is OK)
1/4 tsp. Salt (divided)
1 to taste Black pepper

Instructions

Scrub the clams under cold water.

Place the water in a sauce pan over high heat. Add the clams and cover.

Cook until the clams are open. Remove from the heat and put the clams aside. When cool, remove the clams from the shells and place in the refrigerator.

Strain the clam water through a cheesecloth or coffee filter and set aside.

Place the oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion.

Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes.

Add the celery. Cook for about 2 minutes until the celery begins to soften.

Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, oregano, red pepper flakes, thyme, potatoes and pepper.

Add the reserved clam broth.

Stir, reduce the heat to simmer, and cover the soup. Simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for another 15 minutes. While the soup is cooking, use a spoon or spatula and press the tomatoes to break them up. The consistency of the soup should be like thick tomato sauce.

While the soup is simmering, place the remaining 2 cups water in a medium sauce pan over high heat.

When the water is hot, add the potatoes. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until they are slightly soft.

Drain the potatoes and add them to the sauce. Fold together, remove from the heat and let cool.

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

You will need 2 pieces of parchment, each about 15" x 24".

Fold each piece of parchment so that it is almost a square (15 inches x 12 inches). Starting at one end of the folded edge, cut a half of a heart shape in such a way that when the parchment is opened it is in the shape of a heart.

Place half of the clam chowder on each parchment paper. Reserve about two tablespoons to put on top of the fish.

Center on one side of the cut heart so that the other side will fold over the top of the filets easily.

Put the fish on top of the clam chowder. Top with the remaining clam chowder and the clams.

Sprinkle 1/8 tsp.. of the salt over each of the fish filets. Add fresh pepper to taste.

Place the pouches on a cookie sheet and then into the oven. Cook for 15 minutes.

Remove each pouch to a plate and let stand 30 seconds before cutting the pouch open. There will be some hot steam that escapes when the parchment is cut, so be careful. Serve in the pouch.

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Special Diet Information

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GERD / Acid Reflux

This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Lactose

This recipe is safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

Coumadin® (Warfarin)

This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Gluten Sensitivity

This recipe is safe for those who are sensitive to gluten.

Sodium

This is NOT a low sodium recipe.

Recipe Notes

I love to cook fish in parchment. It is easy enough to be a great weeknight meal and elegant enough to make any dinner party better. If you are going to make this dish for a dinner party, you can prep everything in advance and refrigerate the clams, chowder, and fish separately. If you assemble at the last minute, it will take about 7 minutes extra to cook.

This version was inspired by wanting to make a dish that is both Mediterranean and American. There are a lot of Med Diet points here – fish, veggies, fruit, quality oils – that come together in very American flavors.

"It is not a matter of indifference whether we like oysters or clams, snails or shrimp, if only we know how to unravel the existential significance of these foods."

Jean-Paul Satre, Philosopher