15 Aug A wine to pair with Greek fish soup (Kakavia)?
Instructions
Step 1
Heat 5 tbsp. oil in a 5-qt. pot over high heat. Add the parsley, oregano, bay leaves, onions, and fennel; cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes. Add the eel, the bones and head of the sea bass, 1 1⁄2 cups wine, and 9 cups water; partially cover pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally and skimming the surface, until broth reduces to about 7 cups, about 1 hour. Strain broth, pressing on the bones to expel as much liquid as possible. Discard solids and set broth aside.
Step 2
Heat remaining oil, garlic, and Aleppo pepper in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring often, until garlic is soft, about 4 minutes. Add remaining wine and broth, along with potatoes, carrots, and zucchini; bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Halve sea bass fillets crosswise and add them to the broth; cook until filets are opaque, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and lemon juice. Ladle soup into bowls; serve hot.
Step 3
Leaving aside all the extra thoughts on how to perfectly match a liquid drink with a liquid food, we will end up with great results on excellent matches. One step further, the Greeks have perfectly match a sea-side-made wine with a sea-sourced food. Try Kakavia soup with a white Robola from Kefalonia or white Asyrtiko from Santorini (both having great sharpness and acidity) and you will be amazed! Enjoy.
Ingredients to serve 4-6 persons
7 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
2 sprigs fresh oregano
2 dried bay leaves
1 onion, halved
1⁄2 bulb fennel, plus 3 fronds
1 1⁄2 lb. eel or monkfish, cleaned and cut into 4″ pieces
2 (1-lb.) sea bass or red snapper, cleans and filleted, bones and head reserved
2 cups white wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1⁄2 tsp. Aleppo pepper, or 1⁄8 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
2 medium zucchini, cut into 2″ pieces
Kosher salt, to taste
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice