Cioppino (Seafood Stew)

Submitted by Rich Williams (‘62)
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Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
  • 1 cup bottled clam juice
  • 1 cup drained, diced tomatoes (from a 15-ounce can)
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, plus more for serving
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed
  • 3/4 pound skinless snapper fillets, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 pound shelled and deveined medium shrimp
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Sourdough toast, for serving

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Add shallot and garlic and cook over high heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add stock, clam juice, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and hot sauce and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add clams, cover and cook just until most of them open, about 5 minutes. Add snapper and shrimp, cover and simmer until they are cooked through and remaining clams have opened, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer seafood to 4 bowls. Add butter and parsley and cook over moderate heat for 1 minute, swirling pan. Spoon broth over seafood and serve with sourdough toast.