BOUILLABAISSE with CHUAN XION
YANG – nourishes Pericardium, Liver & Gallbladder tonic, calms MigrainesProduct Source: Farmers Market, Fish Market, Chinese store (i.e. EYS)
RECIPE AND GUIDANCE (4 People)
INGREDIENTS SUBSTITUTE
| 50 ml Olive Oil | |
| 1 Onion white chopped roughly | Shallots and red Onion |
| 1 Leek stem chopped roughly | Mire poix |
| 4 toes garlic mashed | Garlic chips Butter roasted |
| 2 tsp 7 herb mix | Classic mix: Clover, Fennel & Thyme |
| 1/2tsp Saffron | Turmeric and Ginger powder |
| 1kg Fish scraps | Pepper white and Bay leaf |
| 1kg Fish and Shellfish mix cut generously | Fish stock |
| 1 liter water or Vegetable broth | reduce the liquid accordingly |
| 5 pcs Chuan Xion (Loveage bark) | Parsley root |
Traditionally the Bouillabaisse broth is “dirty”. I perform a clarification of the stock by whisking egg white into the hot broth bring to a boil for two minutes and straining it.
Panfry the fish scraps, onion, leek and all the herbs in oil (hold back on the saffron) until after the clarification). Add the water or broth and simmer the soup for one hour. Strain the scraps, clarify, add the saffron and the mixed fresh fish cubes, whole mussels and unpeeled shrimp (or peeled) and bring to a boil and serve hot over roasted garlic bread.
HISTORY AND BENEFIT
Chuanxiong is an herb for vital energy in the blood, and is applicable to syndromes of qi stagnation because it is so pungent in taste as to be dispersing. In the book 'Zuo's Historical Records of the Spring and Autumn Period' (770 - 476 BC) it is referred to as maiju and used to treat abdominal ailments caused by freshwater fish. This herb contains volatile oil, alkaloids (e.g., ligustrazine), phenolic substances (e.g., ferulic acid), lactone, vitamin A, folic acid, sterols, sucrose, fatty oil, etc. Ligustrazine can inhibit the contraction of the vascular smooth muscle, dilate the coronary artery, increase the blood flow in the coronary artery, increase blood flow in the brain and limbs and reduce resistance of the peripheral blood vessels. It can reduce the surface activity of platelets and inhibit their aggregation to prevent thrombosis. The word Loveage originally Love-ake plant for it’s medical qualities in reducing anguish and physical pain by activating circulatory flow.
Saffron is arguably the most expensive herb in the world, due to amount of time and energy it takes to harvest. The term saffron actually refers to the dried stigmas and top of the saffron crocus, a type of flower similar to safflower. Saffron has a sweet taste and cold properties, and is associated with the Heart and Liver meridians. Its main functions are to invigorate the blood, remove stagnation, clear the meridians and release toxins. Chuan Xion or saffron can stimulate contraction of the uterus, it should not be taken by pregnant women.