The Cross and the Cleaver… Dawn’s Fish Stew

I remember watching a video of a chef, whose name eludes me now, who said: “I am Italian, and my mother always told me that in Italian cooking there should be no more than five ingredients.” While this might not necessarily be true, it stuck with me.

Watching TV food/cooking channels or looking at numerous cookbooks I see a divide between simple and complicated cooking. Between recipes with a list of ingredients taking up three pages and literally five-ingredients-dishes. And I don’t like it. I don’t like it because culinary thinking expressed in such a way only reinforces the binary, or black-and-white, seemingly prevalent thinking of today.

As I mentioned before, and likely will again, there is a difference between simple and simplistic … thinking, cooking, believing … whatever; take your pick. In my opinion, the way of thinking that lacks the capacity (or possibility) to be, or include a story, is not a way worth pursuing. There is always more than meets the eye. So goes the saying anyway.

How often do we behave like children, screaming: “I don’t like that, and I am not eating that!!!!!” before even tasting whatever it is we object to? This is true regarding to our preference in food, religion, politics, sports …. You name it, and the proverbial “shoe” will fit, I can guarantee it.

In my opinion, if there is no story to tell, that is associated with whatever the issue is, it is not worth the time and energy. Whatever it is, the phrase “tell me more” needs to elicit further conversation and sharing. If what comes after is swearwords or tabloid headlines, it is not worth your time.

So let me tell you a story of love and simplicity. Story that transcended opinions, preferences, and allegiances ….

It was a miserable evening, cold, damp, windy, and intermittently rainy. Dawn and I walked home for 1.8km in such splendid conditions (yeah, I looked it up). I was miserable, cranky, and overall unfit for human contact. Dawn said to me: “go and relax, dinner on the table in a few.” Which I did … and it was.

Within moments the kitchen was filled with a heavenly aroma, the table was set, and I was facing the most amazing dish that I have ever seen, or eaten. It made me fall in love with my wife again, and suddenly I saw an apron-clad angel wielding a spatula … and I was speechless. You get the picture. It could have been nothing, or not much; and yet, for me, it has become everything.

So here is the dish (simplicity, remember?) ….

Medium heat a non-stick, heavy pot, and keep adding the following:

2 tsp of olive oil (or whatever oil you have on the counter)

1 medium chopped onion, two minced garlick cloves, pinch of salt and pepper … stir together and sauté for about 5-7 minutes.

Chopped celery stalk or tsp of fennel seeds … or both …

1 can (750 mL or thereabouts) of crushed tomatoes, juices, and all

¼ cup of white wine, or apple juice, or water … or don’t bother.

… stir and simmer for 7-10 minutes.

1 can (approx. 250 mL) of water packed tuna, lightly chopped.

1 can (approx. 250 mL) of salmon, lightly chopped.

… simmer for another 7-10 minutes

Serve with parsley (if you wish), baguette or crackers, and hot sauce on the side.