I have always thought that the best part of fish soup is the rouille, a peppery, garlicky sauce that is slathered on toasted rounds of baguette and floated on the surface of the soup. I also like to stir some rouille into the broth. Similar to the Provençal aioli, a garlic-flavored mayonnaise, rouille is flavored with hot pepper and saffron, which give it its signature rust color. (Rouille literally means “rust” in French.) Today I have noticed that North African Jews often spice up their rouille even more, by adding a little harissa (see page 33) to it. Traditionally, a mortar and pestle are used to pound the garlic, pepper, and egg yolk, gradually incorporating the oil to make a mayonnaise. Today it is easy to put everything in a food processor and slowly add the oil, drop by drop. Leftover sauce is good on sandwiches or as a dip.

　　

Ingredients

about 1 1/2 cups

　　2 egg yolks

　　Juice of 1/2 lemon

　　1 to 1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil

　　3 cloves garlic

　　Pinch of salt

　　A few pinches of white pepper

　　A few saffron strands

　　1/2 cup soft white bread crumbs

　　1 cayenne pepper, dried, or 1/2 teaspoon harissa

　　

Step 1

Put the egg yolks and the lemon juice in a small food processor equipped with a steel blade. Drizzle in the oil very slowly, to emulsify into a smooth mayonnaise.

　　

Step 2

Then peel the garlic and add it to the mayonnaise along with the salt, white pepper, saffron, bread crumbs, and the cayenne or harissa. Purée all the ingredients together.

　　

Step 3

Adjust seasonings to taste. If the rouille is not thick enough, blend some cooked potatoes into the sauce.

　　Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous