"The legacy of San Francisco's Italian and Portuguese immigrants?many of them fishermen?lives on in this fuss-free take on the North Beach favorite, with fresh fennel adding a subtle touch of anise to the tomato-based seafood stew...."
INGREDIENTS
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1 fennel bulb, stalks discarded and bulb cut lengthwise into 6 wedges
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1 medium onion, quartered
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3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
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3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
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1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
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1/8 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
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1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes in juice
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1 1/2 cups water
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1 cup full-bodied red wine such as Zinfandel or Syrah
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1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
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1 pound skinless fillets of thick white-fleshed fish such as halibut, hake, or pollack, cut into 2-inch chunks
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1 pound cultivated mussels