Cioppino

Jeff Hixson's Note:

You can adjust the seafood content to suit your taste

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 white onion
• 2 large shallots , finely chopped
• 3 bell peppers , finely chopped (green, yellow, red)
• 8 cloves garlic , finely chopped
• 1 bunch finely chopped fresh fennel , white portion only
• 1 (28 ounce) can italian whole peeled plum tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 bottle red wine (merlot)
• 2 lemons, juice of
• 4 cups clam juice or 4 cups fish stock
• 1 cup water
• 1 bunch chopped Italian parsley
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 24 mussels , scrubbed and debearded
• 24 small hard-shell clams (cherrystone, manila)
• 1 crab , cooked separated and cracked
• 1 lb medium shrimp , peeled and deveined
• 1 lb bay scallop
• 2 lbs firm white fish fillets , cut into pieces (halibut or cod)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a stockpot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, shallots and bell peppers.
3. Cook while stirring until vegetables begin to soften.
4. Add fennel and garlic and cook another 3 minutes while stirring.
5. Add tomatoes,including juice, and break them up with a spoon.
6. Add tomato paste and stir thoroughly until blended.
7. Add wine, clam juice, water, lemon juice, parsley, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, thyme and oregano.
8. Simmer, partially covered for 45 minutes.
9. Add mussels, clams cover and cook for 5 minutes.
10. Add remaining seafood, cover and cook another 5 minutes or until most clams and mussels open.
11. Discard any that do not open.
12. Remove from heat, cover for 5 more minutes more.
13. Adjust seasoning.

Reviews

[GinnyP]

This is so delicious. We added 3 heaping tsps of red pepper flakes because we like spicy cioppino. We also used already cooked and shelled crab to make it easier. For those who don't know, cioppiono (chuh-PEE-noh) is (by Webster's definition) an Italian or Italian-American stew made with tomatoes and a variety of fish and shellfish. I've only had cioppino in restaurants before now. This was as good or better than those I've had out.

[born-to-cook]

I made this for Christmas Eve. I am a Cioppino NUT and I am so disappointed in most restaurants. I spend BIG money for a watered down, lack luster dish and I am constantly sad. THIS IS NOT THAT. WOW!! What a PERFECT TREAT! I will NEVER again order this in another restaurant. This is a bit time consuming, but it's SOOOO worth the effort. DONT CHANGE A THING. Just make sure the seafood is Fresh and the wine you use is excellent. Thanks for MAKING my Christmas. My family was as happy as I was!!

[Chef Rod 99]

Outstanding dish, liked by eveyone, even the non-seafood lovers. Used canned clams instead of live clams and mussels. Added 2 tsp. of Old Bay seasoning to give it a little extra bite.