Shortcut Cioppino Recipes

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add clams and 1/2 cup white wine and cook until clams open, about 5 to 6 minutes (discard any clams that don't open). Remove clams and any liquid in the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add mussels and 1/2 cup white wine and cook until mussels open, about 5 to 6 minutes (discard any mussels that don't open). Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place halibut skin-side down on a cedar plank that has been soaked in water for at least 30 minutes (alternately use a baking sheet). Season halibut with Espelette pepper, fennel pollen and salt. Roast until cooked through and flaky, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the oil. When shimmering, add onions and fennel bulb. Stir and cook until the onion is translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes and remaining 1 cup white wine. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Uncover, add shrimp and let steam from the heat of the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To serve, add mussels and clams and their broth to the tomato mixture. Place cioppino in a large serving bowl. Nestle halibut on top. Garnish with fennel fronds. Serve.

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large (12-inch) heavy pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the fennel and onion and saute for 10 minutes, until tender. Stir in the garlic, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, stock, wine, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. The stock will be highly seasoned.
• Add the seafood in the following order: first the cod, then the shrimp, scallops, and finally the mussels. Do not stir! Bring to a simmer, lower the heat, cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the seafood is cooked and the mussels are open. Stir in the Pernod, being careful not to break up the fish; cover and set aside for 3 minutes for the flavors to blend. Discard any mussels that have not opened. Ladle into large shallow bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot with Garlic Toasts.
• Warm the oil in a medium pot set over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery and cook for 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute. Add 1 1/2 quarts water, the wine, tomato paste, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for one hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing on the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. If not, add enough water or white wine to make 1 quart.
• Cool completely, transfer to containers, and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice the baguette diagonally in 1/4-inch-thick slices. Depending on the size of the baguette, you should get 20 to 25 slices.
• Lay the slices in one layer on a sheet pan, brush each with olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until browned and crisp. As soon as they're cool enough to handle, rub the top of the toasts with a cut side of the garlic. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a very large pot over medium heat. Add the fennel, onion, shallots, and salt and saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and 3/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, and saute 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste. Add tomatoes with their juices, wine, fish stock and bay leaf. Cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
• Add the clams and mussels to the cooking liquid. Cover and cook until the clams and mussels begin to open, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and fish. Simmer gently until the fish and shrimp are just cooked through, and the clams are completely open, stirring gently, about 5 minutes longer (discard any clams and mussels that do not open). Season the soup, to taste, with more salt and red pepper flakes.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the fish stock, drained tomatoes, bay leaf, and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.
• While the broth is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in large sauté pan over high heat. Season the bass on both sides with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the same pan. Season the shrimp and sauté until light golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Remove to the plate with the bass.
• Add the clams and mussels to the thickened broth and cook until they open (discarding any that do not), about 3 minutes. Add the bass and shrimp, and cook just to heat through, about 1 minute. Stir in the parsley and tarragon, and season with the honey, hot sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf.
• To serve, place a crouton in each of 4 to 6 bowls, ladle some of the cioppino on top, and top with the remaining croutons. Garnish with parsley leaves, if desired.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat, or preheat your broiler.
• Combine the butter and anchovies in a food processor, and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, and scrape into a bowl.
• Brush one side of the bread with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill, oil side down (or broil, oil side up), until light golden brown. Turn over and continue grilling until light golden brown on both sides.
• Remove the bread to a platter, and spread some of the butter mixture on the seasoned side. Cut each slice in half crosswise, to make 16 croutons.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot.
• Add the onion and peppers and saute until transparent, then add the garlic.
• While the vegetables are cooking, drain and reserve the clams, keeping the juice.
• Add the clam juice, the tomatoes and the wine to the pot.
• Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Cook the soup, covered, for 10 minutes.
• At this point add the shrimp and reserved clams.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasonings. If desired, add a combination of salt, pepper, basil or oregano to taste. (Italian seasoning can be substituted also).