1 great northern
1 medium onion
1 clove
1 bouquet garni
1 salt
2 carrots, sliced thin
6 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 medium onions, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
3/4 lb tomatoes, peeled, seeded
1 and chopped
1 freshly ground pepper
2 trout (about 1 lb each) or
1 30 oz whiting (6 @ 5oz each)
1 1/2 lb monkfish fillets
6 sea scallops
3/4 cup dried bread crumbs
1. Soak the beans overnight in cold water to cover. Drain and rinse. transfer to a large saucepan and cover with 4 to 5 inches of fresh cold water. Peel the whole onion and stud with the clove and add to the pan along with the bouquet garni. Bring to a boil and skim the froth that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Season to taste wth salt. Add the carrots and continue simmering until the carrots and beans are tender, about 30 minutes. Drain; discard the bouquet garni and the onion.
2. While the beans are cooking, heat 3 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a frying pan over low heat. Add the chopped onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until tender but not colored. Add garlic and cook one minute. Add tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Clean the trout (or whiting) and cut into 1 inch slices.
Cut the monkfish fillets into 1 inch thick slices. Cut the
scallops in half cross-wise. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil and 2
tablespoons of the butter in a large frying pan over high heat. Add
the trout (or whiting) slices and saute until golden brown on both
sides; set aside. Brown the monkfish and sliced scallops in the same
way; set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 450F.
5. Combine the tomato
mixture and drained beans in a saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Taste
and adjust seasonings. Spread one-half of the mixture over the bottom
of a 10x15" gratin dish. Arrange the fish and scallops on top and cover
with the remaining bean mixture. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and
dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Bake until the bread
crumbs are golden brown, 10-15 minutes.
Yield: 6 servings