Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Cioppino

A few years back I took a business trip to San Francisco, while there I had some of the best seafood I've had in years and have since spent time trying to replicate some of those vittles. While the cioppino I ate there was amazing I certainly can't down-play how great this recipe is...it's well worth the expense in seafood!

Cioppino

1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped fennel
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
1 (28-ounce) can crushed plum tomatoes and their juices
1 8oz bottle clam juice
4 cups chicken broth
1 pound mussels, well scrubbed and de-bearded
1 pound firm fish, such as halibut or snapper, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 pound lump crab meat
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped green onions, green tops only
Sourdough bread, accompaniment

1, In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery, and fennel, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaf, salt, oregano, red pepper, fennel seeds, thyme, and black pepper, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook until starting to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the white wine, stir to deglaze the pan, and cook until half of the wine is evaporated, about 2 minutes.

2. Add the plum tomatoes and their juices and the fish stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Add the mussels and simmer until the shells open, about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove and discard any unopened shells.

3. Lightly season the fish and shrimp with the salt and pepper, and add to the pot. Simmer, covered, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley. Ladle into large soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese and green onions.

Serve immediately with hot bread.


2 comments:

Chef E said...

Oh yes it surely is! A big yum on this one!

Anonymous said...

Sounds wonderful, would sure love a bowl!