Cioppino (Italian-American Fish Stew)

Ingredients

• Broth

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 6 garlic cloves, halved
• 1/3 cup loosely packed basil leaves, torn
• 4 pints cherry tomatoes (about 2 pounds), halved
• 1   1/2 cups dry white wine
• Three 14.5-ounce cans whole tomatoes
• Salt

Cioppino

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 leek, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1/2 fennel bulb, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced young celery leaves
• 4 oregano sprigs
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 Kilo clams, scrubbed
• 1 Kilo of mussels, scrubbed
• 1/2 Kilo of king prawn
• Four skinless Coley/Halibut/Cod fillets
• Salt
• Flat-leaf parsley leaves, for garnish
• Toasted baguette slices, for serving

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Method

In a large pot, heat the olive oil add the shallot, garlic and basil cook until the shallot is translucent.

Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until the skins loosen and the tomatoes soften.

Stir in the wine and simmer over moderate heat until reduced by half.

Blitz the canned tomatoes with a blender.

Add the pureed tomatoes and bring to a simmer.

Cover and cook for 40 minutes. Let cool slightly, then strain the broth through a sieve into a large bowl, pressing on the solids; you should have about 7  3/4 cups of broth.

Season with salt.

Rinse out the pot.

In the pot, heat the olive oil add the leek, fennel, celery, oregano and crushed red pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the vegetables have softened.

Pour in the tomato broth and bring to a simmer.

Add the clams, cover and cook for 5 minutes, shaking the pot occasionally.

Stir in the mussels and shrimp.

Season the fish fillets with salt and place it on top of the stew partially submerge them.

Cover and cook until the fish is just white throughout.

 

Transfer the fish to a large serving bowl. Season the cioppino with salt. Transfer the seafood to the bowl with the fish. Pour the tomato broth over the seafood. Garnish with parsley and serve with toasted baguette slices

Tip: Like any stew, you can add any seafood you wish will work really well with any shellfish.