Courtbouillon

Courtbouillon is a traditional Creole, roux-based, poached fish stew served over rice. It’s thick and hearty and can be made with several types of fish.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Courtbouillon

Courtbuillon, pronounced COO-bee-yahn if you’re wondering, is new to me. I love Sea Bass and was really tired of just baking it when I saw a post from a dear sweet friend of mine.  She loves everything about New Orleans, especially the food, so I took her recipe (that uses Redfish) and adapted it to my love of Sea Bass.  I threw in a few large shrimp and as Emeril would say – BAM! Boy was it good. Sea Bass is meaty and flaky, yet sort of creamy; it really melts in your mouth.  When poached, it’s super tender and takes on so much flavor of the broth. So is traditional Southern Courtbouillon Creole or Cajun? Take a look at The Best Shrimp Creole  recipe for a description of the difference.

What does Court bouillon mean?

Court bouillon or courtbouillon is a quickly-cooked broth used for poaching other foods, most commonly fish or seafood. Court bouillon loosely translates as ‘briefly boiled liquid’ or “short broth” because the cooking time is brief in comparison with other more complex stocks. In traditional French cuisine the court bouillon is simply the poaching liquid and is not served as part of the served dish; but here in the South – we don’t let anything that good go to waste.

Courtbouillon vs Gumbo

Courtbouillon is Creole (tomato-based) whereas Gumbo is Cajun.  Both are roux-based (flour cooked in fat) and incorporate the “holy trinity” of onions, celery, and bell peppers.  Courtbouillon is traditionally made from fish or seafood where Gumbo can be any combination of meat, fish, seafood, chicken, and/or sausage.

How to make Courtbouillon

There are a lot of ingredients in Courtbouillon, but it packs a flavor punch!  To make this Courtbouillon you will need flour and oil to make your roux, 2 lbs of Sea bass (or other firm, white fish) and some large shrimp.  You’ll need an onion, some celery, a bell pepper, a couple of carrots, a lot of garlic, canned tomatoes, and some spices.  I use  Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning; you really can’t beat it.  If you like it a little spicier, add in a bit of extra cayenne.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Once you have all your ingredients, make your roux by cooking the flour and the oil in a heavy pan over high heat.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Stir constantly until it turns into a nice light brown/tan color.  You don’t want it to get too dark because it will continue to cook in the next step.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Add in your vegetables and garlic and cook until soft – about 8 minutes.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Once soft (but not mushy) add in your tomatoes and cook for just a few minutes.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Next, add in your warm stock.  If the stock is cold, it could separate your roux.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Add in the Worcestershire sauce, Tony Chachere’s, and the bay leaf. If you’re using dried parsley, add it here; if you’re using fresh – wait until the next step. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30-45 minutes.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Next, pour in the lemon juice followed by the parsley, stir to combine, then very gently place your fish and shrimp in the pot.  Do not bring the liquid back to a boil, and do not stir after you’ve added the fish.  Cover your pot and over very low heat, simmer for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

When done, serve over rice.  The fish should be very flaky so be careful when transferring from the pot to the plate.  Garnish with the remaining green onion and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Courtbouillon,courtbouillon vs gumbo,court bouillon means,courtbouillon pronunciation,courtbouillon sauce

Courtbuillon

Courtbouillon

Candy
Courtbouillon is a traditional Creole, roux-based, poached fish stew served over rice. It's thick and hearty and can be made with several types of fish.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine American, Creole, French
Servings 4
Calories 568 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven or deep cast iron pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 1 large carrot chopped
  • ¼ cup minced garlic
  • 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 quart warm stock Fish, Chicken, or Vegetable
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Tony Chachere’s Seasoning or blend ¼ tsp each: salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¾ cup chopped green onions divided
  • ¼ cup dried parsley or ½ cup fresh, chopped
  • juice of ½ small lemon save the other half for garnish
  • 2 pounds Sea Bass or other firm white fish
  • 12 large shrimp
  • 3 cups cooked white rice

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, Dutch Oven, or deep cast iron skillet make a brown roux by cooking the oil and flour on medium high heat, stirring constantly. About 5 minutes. You don’t want the roux too dark because it will continue to cook in the next step.
  • When the roux is the color you’d like, add the chopped onions, celery, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes plus juice and cook in the vegetable mixture for a few minutes.
  • Next, add 1 qt of warm stock and Worcestershire sauce. Season with the Tony Chachere’s and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for about 30 minutes, adding more liquid if needed.
  • Add in ½ cup of the green onions, the parsley, and lemon juice. Taste the sauce for seasoning and adjust if needed. Gently add the fish and/or shrimp and do not boil or stir. Simmer fish covered for about 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness.
  • Serve the Courtbouillon over rice and garnish with reserved green onion and a squeeze of lemon.

Nutrition

Calories: 568kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 50gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 1561mgPotassium: 1643mgFiber: 7gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 4281IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 197mgIron: 7mg
Keyword Courtbouillon, Fish, Rice, Sea Bass, Seafood, Shrimp, Tomatoes
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