Title: Fish Soup (Kakavia)
Categories: Soup Greek Seafood
Yield: 8 Servings

		Karen Mintzias
1 1/2	kg	Fish trimmings
3	l	Water
		Salt
		Whole peppercorns
2	lg	Onions; chopped
2		Garlic cloves; crushed
2		Leeks (optional) - white part only
1	c	Chopped carrot
1	c	Chopped celery (with leaves)
1/2	c	Olive oil
2	c	Chopped, peeled tomatoes
2		Bay leaves
4		Sprigs parsley
1		Sprig thyme
750	g	Potatoes; peeled & sliced
		Parsley; chopped
FISH (SEE NOTE
1 1/2	kg	Mixed whole fish
500	g	Green lobster tails
500	g	Large green prawns
2	tb	Lemon juice

Obtain from the fishmonger fish trimmings such as heads and backbones. Rinse well and place in a large pot. Add water, salt and 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns and simmer for 2 hours. Strain stock and reserve.

Gently fry onion, garlic, chopped leeks, carrots and celery in oil for 10 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, herbs tied into a bunch and reserved fish stock. Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add potatoes and boil for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat, add fish pieces and simmer 3 minutes, then add lobster pieces and prawns and simmer for 7-10 minutes until prawns turn pink and lobster meat is cooked. Do not boil when shellfish are added for they will toughen.

Pile fish, shellfish and potatoes in a serving dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley and keep hot.

Serve soup in a tureen as a first course with crusty bread, then follow with seafoods and potatoes served with lemon wedges and a cruet of olive oil. Alternatively soup, potatoes and seafoods may be served together in deep plates.

NOTE: Fish and shellfish preparation: Fish suitable are snapper, mullet, eel, whiting, john dory and bream. Cut into 5 cm (2 inch) slices and sprinkle with lemon juice. Add heads and trimmings to fish stock. Cut rinsed lobster tails into 5 cm (2 inch) pieces with shell on. Shell and de-vein prawns.

Source: The Greek Cookbook by Tess Mallos

Typos by: Karen Mintzias

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