If you're also making the slow-cooked onion salad , you can cook the cauliflower for this recipe while your onions finish roasting. Steam the mussels and cod after the onions are done, just before assembling your salad.
Ingredients
1 large pinch of saffron threads, crumbled
1 cup lukewarm water
1 2-pound head cauliflower
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 small carrot, cut into 1/4-inch dice (1/3 cup)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 pounds small to medium mussels (preferably cultivated; 3 dozen), scrubbed and beards removed
6 1/4-pound pieces cod or scrod fillet (1 inch thick), skinned and pin bones removed
3 scallions, chopped (2/3 cup)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Put saffron threads in a small bowl, then stir in lukewarm water and let stand.
Trim cauliflower stalk flush with base of crown, discarding stalk, then quarter cauliflower lengthwise. Cut each quarter lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Set aside large slices and reserve small pieces without any stem for another use.
Swirl oil with garlic in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet to coat, then heat over moderately high heat until oil is just smoking. Discard garlic. Carefully arrange cauliflower slices in 1 layer in skillet and cook until undersides are lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn over with tongs and cook until other sides are lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
Add carrot and wine and swirl skillet to combine, then boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 30 seconds. Add saffron water, broth, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper and simmer, covered, until cauliflower and carrot are crisp-tender, 5 to 8 minutes.
While cauliflower simmers, pat fish dry and sprinkle both sides with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper.
Increase heat to moderately high, then add mussels to skillet and steam, covered, until mussels just open wide, checking frequently after 3 to 4 minutes. (Discard any mussels that remain unopened after 8 minutes.) Divide mussels among 6 shallow serving bowls using a slotted spoon.
Place cod on top of cauliflower, arranging fillets in 1 layer. Sprinkle with scallions and parsley and steam, covered, over moderately high heat until fish is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.
Transfer some of cauliflower along with 1 piece of cod to each bowl using slotted spoon. Season broth with salt and white pepper, then ladle broth (with carrots) over each serving.
