Bouillon Poisson (Fish Stew, Creole Style)

When Jonah, the main character of The Nightmare Tree, meets Captain Acquille, the old man treats him to a bowl of Bouillon Poisson, a traditional Seychellois fish stew. Here is the recipe, courtesy of The Mancham Family Cookbook, by Catherine Olsen Mancham.

Ingredients
1 lb of fresh fish (right out of the water, if possible)
2 tbsps olive oil
1 onion
1 clove of garlic (minced)
2 tomatoes (chopped)
3 cups of boiling water
Fresh parsley and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Fry the onions and garlic in olive oil until transparent.
2. Add fish and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Add boiling water, salt, pepper, parsley and thyme. Cook for 15 minutes.
4. Serve steaming hot with boiled rice.

Note: In the book, the stew was spicy, indicating that Captain Acquille had liberally doused it in Tabasco Sauce. For those of you with a taste for heat, this is a good way to go. Enjoy!