It is important that your pot has a well- fitting lid, otherwise the stock will boil away.
2 kg crayfish bodies and shells (4-5 crayfish), roughly chopped and dried
60 ml brandy
Warm the wine and water in a medium saucepan. Heat a little olive oil in a deep saucepan and stir-fry the crayfish shells until they turn deep red and are piping hot. Warm the brandy, pour over and flame.
When the flames subside pour in the wine and water, cover and simmer gently for about 45 minutes. Check from time to time that the liquid doesn't boil away; add extra if necessary.
Drain and discard the shells. You should have about 500 ml stock. If there's more, pour into a clean pot and boil uncovered until reduced to the correct amount. If you have less, add water.
Makes about 500 ml
The Montagu's Bouillabaisse Stock
500 g clean fish heads, trimmings and bones 100 ml olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled '12 onion, chopped
1 leek, roughly sliced 1/2 carrot, roughly chopped 1 rib celery, roughly sliced 50 ml white wine
30 ml Pernod
50 ml Vermouth
70 g can tomato paste pinch saffron threads
2 ml star anise
2 ml coriander seeds
5 ml chopped fresh coriander 5 ml chopped fresh dill
5 ml chopped fresh parsley
Set the oven at 220 'C. Heat half the olive oil in a roaster, add the fish trimmings and bones and roast until slightly browned.
Heat the remaining olive oil in a large saucepan and lightly brown in the chopped vegetables. Add the tomato paste, then the fish trimmings and vegetables. Deglaze with the wine, Pernod and Vermouth, then add the water.
Bring to the boil slowly, skim off the scum that floats to the top, add the herbs and spices, cover and simmer for 11/2 hours.
Strain the stock through a fine sieve, then through a muslin cloth into a clean saucepan. Boil uncovered until reduced by half. Cool.
Makes about 2 litres
The Montagu's Bouillabaisse Sauce
250 ml Montagu's Bouillabaisse Stock (previous recipe)
100 g soft butter, cut into cubes
Pour the bouillabaisse stock into a medium saucepan and boil uncovered until reduced by half. Whisk in the diced butter. Serves 6
Vegetable Stock
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 carrot, roughly chopped
2 leeks, roughly sliced
2 ribs celery, roughly chopped
2 red, yellow or green peppers, seeded and roughly sliced
4 ripe tomatoes, quartered
6 cloves garlic, peeled
100 g button mushrooms, roughly chopped 2 courgettes, roughly chopped
bunch fresh herbs (basil, thyme, sage, coriander, parsley, marjoram)
2 ml star anise
4 bay leaves
Place all the ingredients in a deep saucepan. Bring to the boil, move the lid aside to partially cover and simmer for about 2 hours.
Strain through a fine sieve, then through a muslin cloth. Cool. Makes about 4 litres