Moroccan Seafood Bastilla Recipe






INGREDIENTS


Seafood


2 lbs. fresh medium shrimp, in the shell - (or 1 lb. shelled with head and tail removed)


1 lb. fresh calamari, - cleaned; cut into rings or strips and tentacles coarsely chopped


1 lb. swordfish - or other firm fish, cut into filet or steak


3 tablespoons butter, - divided


salt and pepper


Tomato Sauce


2 large ripe tomatoes, - seeded and grated


3 large cloves garlic, - pressed


1 large handful fresh parsley, - finely chopped


2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil


1 teaspoon salt


1 teaspoon pepper


Vermicelli Filling


6 to 7 oz. Chinese vermicelli - (bean thread or rice vermicelli)


1 large handful dry black mushrooms - (wood ear mushrooms)


1 tablespoon hot sauce, - or to taste


1 tablespoon soy sauce, - or to taste


tomato sauce - (recipe above)


reserved liquids from cooking the seafood


Assembly


1 lb. warqa pastry sheets,


1/2 cup unsalted butter, - melted


1 tbsp vegetable oil


1 egg yolk, - lightly beaten


1 cup grated cheese (Edam, Mild Cheddar, Gouda, etc.) - optional


Garnish


1/2 cup grated cheese - optional


cooked shrimp in the shell - optional


parsley sprigs - optional


INSTRUCTIONS


Ahead of Time – Clean the Shrimp


If starting with raw shrimp in the shell, allow time for cleaning it. Remove the shell, head, tail, and legs from the shrimp. Deveining the shrimp is optional but I always do it. Wash the cleaned shrimp and drain thoroughly. The cleaned shrimp can be covered and refrigerated for up to a day until needed.


Make the Tomato Sauce


In a small saucepan or pot, combine the grated tomato, garlic, parsley, oil and salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-low to medium heat until a thick sauce forms, about 15 minutes. 


Remove from the heat and stir in the hot sauce and soy sauce. Set aside.


Cook the Seafood and Fish – Reserve All Cooking Liquids


Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the shrimp. Season the shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and saute for 1 or 2 minutes, just until the shrimp is white and cooked through. 


Drain and reserve the liquids and set the shrimp aside.


In the same skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the swordfish steak. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook, turning several times, until the fish is cooked and flakes easily. 


Drain and reserve the liquids. Break the fish off the bone into bite-size pieces, discarding any skin, and set aside.


In a skillet with a lid, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the calamari and season with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cover and braise the calamari in the butter and its own juices for 30 minutes or longer, until the calamari is very tender. Add a tiny bit of water during cooking only if the liquids evaporate before the squid is cooked.


When the calamari is cooked, drain and reserve the liquids and set the calamari aside.

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