This classic Italian seafood stew that is the perfect, showstopping main dish for a Feast of the Seven Fishes. Brimming with a generous variety of clams, mussels, shrimp, and salmon, this hearty stew is meant for congregating over with friends and family.
Ingredients
¼cupextra virgin olive oil
¾teaspoonwhole fennel seeds
¾teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
4clovesgarlicin their peels, lightly smashed
1small white onionpeeled and diced
2shallotspeeled and diced
2teaspoonskosher salt
1 1/2cupsDaVinci Chianti
¼cuptomato paste
2cans of petite diced tomatoes in juices14.5 ounce
4cupsfish stockhomemade or purchased
2stems fresh parsleyplus extra for serving
2stems fresh basilplus extra for serving
1bay leaf
1poundLittleneck Clamsscrubbed
1poundmusselsscrubbed and debeared
1poundlarge shrimp32 count per pound, peeled and deveined
1 ½poundsfresh bonelessskinless salmon filets, cut into 2-inch chunks
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot like a braiser over medium heat. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seeds and toast until fragrant. Add the garlic cloves, onions, shallots, and kosher salt to the pan. Sautee gently, stirring frequently, until the onions are semi-translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Raise the heat to high and pour in the Chianti. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the wine reduces slightly. Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes and juices, and the fish stock. Drop the fresh herbs and bay leaf into the pot and return the contents of the pot to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
At this point, you can remove the soup base from the heat and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
About 30 to 45 minutes before you wish to serve the Cioppino, bring the soup base back to a simmer. Add the clams and mussels to the soup base and stir well. Cover and cook until the clams and mussels start opening. Add the shrimp and fish. Simmer gently until the shrimp and fish are just barely cooked through. Pick out any mussels and clams that did not open and discard. Taste the soup and season, if desired, with more salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.