*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                            Caldo Siete Mares

Recipe By     : 
Serving Size  : 8    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Soups                            Seafood

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  pound         Whitefish -- any type
     1/2  pound         Shrimp, large -- shelled
     1/2  pound         Sea Scallops
     1/4  pound         Calamari -- cut in rounds
     1/4  pound         Crapmeat or lobster -- or both
  12                    Clams, littleneck -- scrubbed
  24                    Mussels, blue -- scrubbed
   8      cups          Fish stock -- or water*
   1                    Bay leaf -- crushed
   1      teaspoon      Oregano
   1      pinch         Saffron
   2                    Chile chipotle -- canned
   3                    Jalapenos, fresh -- halved
   4                    Garlic cloves -- crushed
   2      tablespoons   Olive oil
   1                    Onion, white -- in eighths
     1/2  cup           Parsley -- Chopped
  12                    Tomatoes, Plum -- divided
   2                    Epazote sprigs

*To make a good fish stock, buy a few fish heads, if you can, and boil them fo
r 1/2 hour along with the shrimp shells, in 8 cups water. Then strain through
 a sieve lined with cheesecloth. If you do not want to do this, you can use water 
with fish, chicken, or vegetable Knorr* boullion cubes (use 6 cubes) or use
 chicken or beef stock. Next, in a large pot, saute the onion and garlic in the
 olive oil. In a blender, combine half the tomatoes with 2 cups of the broth. 
Blend, and add to the pot. Add the remaining liquid along with everything 
except the seafood.  Bring it to a boil, lower to simmer for 20 minutes.  
Add the fish, which should be cut into chunks 2"x2".
 After one minute add all remaining seafood. 
Cook 1-2 minutes on medium high until the clams & mussels open
. Discard any that remain closed (Also, do not use any that were open before cooking) Remove from heat.
Serve with a slice of jalapeno pepper in the middle.

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