Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 green onions, sliced 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
3 cups seafood stock 1 cup water 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 bay leaf ½ teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 pound cod, catfish, or halibut fillets, cut into chunks
1 cup whole milk Salt and ground black pepper to taste Hot sauce (optional)
Celery leaves (for garnish)
Melt butter in a 5-quart stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring, until onion is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add green onions and stir.
Stir flour into the vegetable mixture until vegetables are evenly coated. Pour clam juice, stock, and water into the saucepan; whisk until smooth. Add potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and cayenne pepper to the mixture. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Place fish into the soup. Cover soup pot and cook until fish is flaky, about 8 minutes, depending on type of fish used.
Pour milk into the soup and stir. Simmer soup until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove bay leaf to serve. Add hot sauce, if desired, and garnish with celery leaves.
For decades, a remote piece of Currituck County has been a respite for wildlife. Now under the protection of conservationists, this land, the waters surrounding it, and the skies above will remain a constant in our coastal circle of life.
On North Carolina’s coast, boardwalks wind alongside our sounds, rivers, and beaches, reminding us that the journey is often just as delightful as the destination.
