- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 1/4 teaspoons dried tarragon
- 1 cup bottled clam juice
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups 1/2-inch bread cubes cut from good-quality white bread
- 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh-ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3/4 pound boneless, skinless cod fillet, cut into approximately 1-by-1/2-inch strips
- 3/4 pound medium shrimp, shelled and halved lengthwise
- In a large pot, melt the butter over moderately low heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic, and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes. Add the wine, tarragon, clam juice, tomatoes, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put a medium frying pan over moderately low heat. Toss the bread cubes with the oil and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; add them to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss the croutons with 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons of the parsley.
- Stir the cod and shrimp into the soup. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the seafood is just done, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the remaining parsley and serve the soup topped with the croutons.