Description
Cioppino, a robust tomato-based seafood stew, offers a flavorful experience perfect for both family dinners and special occasions. This Italian-American dish captures the essence of San Francisco’s fishing heritage, combining a variety of seafood with fresh herbs and wine for a sophisticated yet straightforward preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds halibut, sea bass, or other firm white fish, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 large (2 pounds or more) cooked Dungeness crab with shell
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on for presentation)
- 2 pounds littleneck clams and/or mussels (cleaned and debearded)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped (1 large)
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped (any color works)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cups red wine (preferably dry like Chianti or Cabernet)
- 2 cups tomato juice
- 2 cups fish or shellfish stock
- Herb bouquet: bay leaf, fresh parsley, and basil wrapped in cheesecloth
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and bell peppers, sautéing until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the red wine and increase heat to medium-high. Let the mixture simmer until the wine reduces by about half, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, and stir in the tomato juice and fish stock.
- Add the herb bouquet, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Simmer for 25-30 minutes.
- Add fresh clams and mussels to the broth, cover the pot, and cook for about 5 minutes until they begin to open.
- Add the fish pieces and shrimp, simmering for 4-5 minutes until the fish is opaque and the shrimp turns pink.
- Add the crab pieces and cook just until heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the herb bouquet and discard any unopened shellfish. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley just before serving.
Notes
- Layered cooking is key for developing rich flavors.
- Use fresh seafood for best results; quality frozen seafood is preferable to less-fresh options.
- Prepare the tomato-based broth ahead of time to enhance flavor, but add seafood just before serving.
- Serve with crusty sourdough bread for dipping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: N/A
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
Keywords: cioppino, seafood stew, easy cioppino recipe, Italian-American dish, tomato seafood stew, cioppino with crab