Red Fish Stew (Cioppino)
While most Cioppino recipes call for clams, oysters and/or crab, this one
uses only white fish, shrimp, and scallops which are generally available fresh
at a local market.
Ingredients:
| 1 lb raw med/large shrimp (shell on) | 2 cans chopped tomatoes (about 13 oz ea) |
| 1 lb cod/halibut/firm white fish, cut into chunks | 1/2 lb chopped fresh mushrooms |
| 1/2 lb scallops (small, or chopped if large) | 1 med. yellow onion, chopped |
| 2 cups chopped celery | 1 large red bell pepper, sliced thin |
| 1 bottle clam juice (8 oz) | 1 clove garlic, minced |
| 1/2 cup red wine | 2 cups water or broth |
| 1 can tomato paste | 1 large lemon (will be squeezed) |
| Italian seasonings: Bay leaf, oregano, basil, marjoram, chopped parsley, rosemary |
| Spices: Worcestershire sauce, crushed red papper, salt, ground white pepper |
| Olive oil for sauteeing the onion, garlic & mushrooms |
| Optional: 1/2 lb. chopped squid (calamari) |
| Optional: Crusty french baguette |
Preparation:
- Peel the shrimp, saving the shells. Rinse the scallops. Set the
shrimp, fish & scallops aside in a bowl. (Keep the seafood chilled until
it is added to the stew).
- Simmer the shells and the water/broth with
some salt in a small saucepan for about 10 minutes while you begin the
stew.
- Saute the mushrooms in a small pan with a little olive oil and set aside.
- In a very large pot, saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until
the onion is glossy and nearly clear.
- Drain the stock from the shrimp
shells, and add it to the pot along
with both cans of tomatoes, the clam juice, and the Italian Seasonings to
taste.
- Stir in the tomato paste. Bring to a boil, add the sauteed mushrooms
and the red pepper slices. Add the spices to taste.
- Cover and simmer
for 15 minutes.
- Add the red wine and stir. Fold in the seafood and squeeze the lemon
juice into the pot. The stew can be thinned with the addition of stock
(vegetable, fish, or chicken) for a more soup-like consistency.
-
Reheat to boil then simmer for 10 minutes.
- Serve with slices of fresh French baguette.
