Seafood Minestrone - Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh small clams
• 1 pound fresh mussels
• 12 quarts water
• 1 cup salt
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1 small fennel bulb, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1-1/4 cups fish stock or bottled clam juice
• 1 recipe Bouquet Garni (see recipe below)
• 1 medium zucchini, finely chopped (1-1/4 cups)
• 2 medium tomatoes, seeded, peeled and chopped (1 cup)
• 1 medium red sweet pepper, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
• 2 ounces fresh green beans, finely chopped (2/3 cup)
• 1 recipe Pistou (see recipe below)
• 1/3 cup broken dried vermicelli or spaghetti (1 ounce)
• 12 ounces sea scallops, rinsed and thinly sliced, or bay scallops, rinsed
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh basil (optional)