6 people
SOUP
Ina Garten Modern Comfort (p. 66)
Bacon - 1⁄2 lb
Cod - 2 lbs
Yellow onions - 3
Celery - 6
Thyme - 3 sprigs
Gold potatoes - 1 lb
White wine - 3⁄4 cup
Pernod liqueur - 2 tbl
Unsalted butter - 1⁄2 stick
Half-and-half - 1⁄2 cup
Heavy cream - 1⁄2 cup
Seafood stock - 32 oz
Saffron threads - 3⁄4 tsp
Bacon - 3/4-inch dice
Yellow onions - cut in half and thinly slice cross-wise to yield 6 cups
Celery - 1/2-inch dice to yield 3 cups
Thyme - mince to yield 1 tbl
Gold potatoes - peel and slice 1/4-inch thick
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the bacon in a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate and set aside. Add the onions, celery, and thyme to the bacon fat and saute for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown. Add the wine, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper, scraping up the brown bits in the pot. Simmer for 2 minutes.
Transfer half of the onion mixture to a bowl and spread the remaining onions in the pot. Distribute half of the potatoes on the onions, then half of the butter. Spread the reserved onion mixtured on top, then the remaining potatoes and butter. Add the stock and saffron, cover the pot, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are almost tender when tested with a knife.
Cut the fish in very large chunks and sprinkle with 1 tbl salt and 1 1⁄2 tsp pepper. Stir the half-and-half and cream into the pot and add the fish, pressing it into the liquid.
Cover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are done and the fish flakes easily. Add the bacon and Pernod, stirring very gently to avoid breaking up the fish, then cover and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Ladle into large shallow bowls and serve hot.