Mussel, hake and tomato soup

SERVES: 4 TIME: 30 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

1kg mussels, prepared 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced knob of butter 500mls water or stock 150ml white wine 3 fresh thyme sprigs 400g hake, skinned and cut into 3cm pieces 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp olive oil freshly ground black pepper 3 large leeks, thinly sliced, washed 1 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

TO SERVE: FRENCH OR SOURDOUGH BREAD

METHOD

1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the mussels and white wine, cover tightly. Allow the mussels to cook for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan from time to time to ensure they cook evenly. Discard any that have not opened. 2. Tip the mussels into a colander set over a bowl to collect the cooking liquid. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the mussel meat from the shells of about half of the mussels. Cover and set aside. Discard the empty shells. 2. Return the saucepan to a medium-low heat, add the olive oil then add the leeks. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until soft, add the garlic and thyme, cook for another minute. 3. Pour the white wine mixture into a measuring jug (except the last tablespoon or two which may be gritty), add the water or stock to the jug to make up to 700ml, add to the leek mixture along with the chopped tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes for the flavours to infuse. 4. Add the hake to the sauce and simmer for a minute or two until the fish is just cooked through. Add the mussel meat and the mussels in their shells to the saucepan and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Taste and season with some black pepper. As the mussels are naturally salty you shouldn’t need any salt. 5. Ladle the soup between 4 bowls, sprinkle over parsley. Serve with crusty bread.