Cioppino Recipe

Maggie Hoffman/Flickr.com

If you’re looking for a meal that’s comforting, flavorful, and perfect for cooler nights, cioppino is a great choice. This Italian-American seafood stew blends white fish, shrimp, clams and mussels with a rich tomato and wine broth that tastes like the sea in every spoonful. Whether you’re cooking for family or friends, this recipe walks you through how to bring a hearty, restaurant-style dish to your own kitchen with simple steps and ingredients you can find at any market.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup chopped onion

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 carrot, peeled, shredded

1/2 cup chopped celery

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 (16-ounce) cans chopped tomatoes

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 bay leaf

1 pound fresh or frozen white fish steaks, cut into bite-size pieces

1-1/2 cups white wine

1 (7- to 10-ounce) can clams

1 (8-ounce) package frozen peeled shrimp

8 ounces fresh or frozen scallops

2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley

TO PREPARE:

Step 1: Saute the onion, bell pepper, carrot, celery and garlic in the olive oil in a skillet.

Step 2: Spoon the onion mixture into a stockpot. Stir in the undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, salt, pepper and bay leaf.

Step 3: Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaf.

Step 4: Add the white fish, wine, undrained clams, shrimp and scallops to the stew mixture and mix gently.

Step 5: Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and the scallops are tender, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with hot crusty Italian bread or sourdough bread. Any type of white fish, such as halibut, sea bass or swordfish may be used.

Serves 6 - 8

Once your cioppino has simmered and all the seafood is perfectly cooked, serve it hot with crusty bread to soak up the broth. You’ve just made a dish that’s full of flavor and perfect for gathering around the table. Enjoy the rich, comforting taste and save the recipe to make again for friends and family.