What you ask is Cioppino? Well it's pretty simple, it's fish stew...that's easy! And oh so easy to make!
Just take a peek in your freezer and see what seafood you may have in there. Frozen shrimp, fish, scallops, anything that screams seafood.
Start with a sautée of onions, garlic, celery, a dash of salt, and a bay leaf or two all in olive oil....please spend a bit more on your EVOO...good Olive oil is essential in cooking. This is an Italian-American dish, but I prefer to make it full on Italian! That's me, it's my preference.
Cooking is not a science like most people believe, it's a passion, a love and a test. So there are no specific amounts of seasonings, just make sure you're well seasoned for the size of your dish.
Once Sautéed add a can or cans of diced/whole tomatoes undrained, one or two, possibly more cans depending on size of the dinner guests...or household as is my case. I still have 8 plus kids so I need more. Then some good tomato paste for sweetness and thickness. Then add your chicken stock, either homemade, or canned, I use bone broth, it's just richer and tastier, but either will do! Let that all have fun in the pot together for some time, bring it so a soft simmer and let it all marry.
You can leave this on the stove for some time, while you're ironing...LOL, just kidding no one does that anymore right?? If they do, then I'm not one of them!!!
About 1/2 hour before you are ready to serve your amazing stew, add your seafood...shrimp, fish cut into pieces, crab if you have some, scallops whole, clams, mussels....add it all and the kitchen sink!!! Let that simmer until the fish if flaky and the shrimp are pink and pretty....and whatever else is in there. You'll know when it's ready, just don't overcook, don't wait until you see the shrimp rise to the heavens in a crumbly mess!
Use your imagination in seasoning, if you like it hot add Cayenne pepper, if not then don't...salt and pepper to taste, add fresh parsley and a lemon wedge to each bowl, I do add lemon to the broth, but not everyone likes the lemon flavor. That is up to you...LIKE I SAY, DO NOT FEAR FOOD!! it's fun to cook, it's like playing with your food when you didn't want to eat your mom's liver and onions....and we'll talk about those soon!!!!
