Name: Cioppino
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 1/2 hr
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients: 4 large garlic cloves, minced; 2 medium onions, finely chopped; 1 Turkish bay leaf or 1/2 California bay leaf; 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled; 1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 1/2 cups dry red wine; 1 (28- to 32-ounces) can whole plum tomatoes, drained, reserving juice, and chopped; 1 cup bottled clam juice; 1 cup chicken broth; 1 (1-pound) king crab leg, thawed if frozen; 18 small (2-inch) hard-shelled clams (1 1/2 pound) such as littlenecks, scrubbed; 1 pound skinless red snapper or halibut fillets, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces; 1 pound large shrimp (16 to 20), shelled (tails and bottom segment of shells left intact) and deveined; 3/4 pound sea scallops, tough muscle removed from side of each if necessary; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil; Garnish: shredded fresh basil leaves and small whole leaves; Accompaniment: focaccia or sourdough bread

The stew — without seafood — can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, uncovered, then chill, covered. Bring to a simmer before adding seafood.

Recipe information

Total Time
1 1/2 hr
Yield
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

4 large garlic cloves, minced

2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 Turkish bay leaf or 1/2 California bay leaf

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled

1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 1/2 cups dry red wine

1 (28- to 32-ounces) can whole plum tomatoes, drained, reserving juice, and chopped

1 cup bottled clam juice

1 cup chicken broth

1 (1-pound) king crab leg, thawed if frozen

18 small (2-inch) hard-shelled clams (1 1/2 pound) such as littlenecks, scrubbed

1 pound skinless red snapper or halibut fillets, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

1 pound large shrimp (16 to 20), shelled (tails and bottom segment of shells left intact) and deveined

3/4 pound sea scallops, tough muscle removed from side of each if necessary

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil

Garnish: shredded fresh basil leaves and small whole leaves

Accompaniment: focaccia or sourdough bread

Preparation

Step 1
Cook garlic, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and red pepper flakes with salt and pepper in oil in an 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by about half, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juice, clam juice, and broth and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 2
While stew is simmering, hack crab leg through shell into 2- to 3-inch pieces with a large heavy knife. Add crab pieces and clams to stew and simmer, covered, until clams just open, 5 to 10 minutes, checking every minute after 5 minutes and transferring opened clams to a bowl with tongs or a slotted spoon. (Discard any unopened clams after 10 minutes.) Lightly season fish fillets, shrimp, and scallops with salt and add to stew, then simmer, covered, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf, then return clams to pot and gently stir in parsley and basil.
Step 3
Serve cioppino immediately in large soup bowls.

Cioppino (San Francisco–Style Seafood Stew)

Recipe information

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Recipe notes