Nor Cal Cioppino 2
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings
- Total: 1 hr 55 min
- Prep: 25 min
- Cook: 1 hr 30 min
Ingredients
Crab:
4 pounds whole Dungeness crabs
1 head garlic, cut through the middle
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon dried red chili flakes
Cioppino:
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cups diced yellow onions (about 4 medium onions)
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced fennel
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup minced garlic
1/2 cup tomato paste
6 cups tomato sauce, such as San Marzano
1 1/2 cups dry red wine
1/2 cup clam juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons sambuca liqueur
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons red chili flakes
2 tablespoons fine sea salt
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 bay leaves
2 pounds littleneck clams, cleaned and scrubbed
2 pounds firm white fish, such as cod or halibut, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 pounds shrimp (16/20 count), shell-on, deveined
Sourdough bread, for serving
Directions
- Begin by poaching the whole crabs: To prepare the crabs, set a large pot of cold water with the garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorns, kosher salt and chili flakes over high heat. Bring to a boil, and then drop in the crabs. Once the water starts to boil again, reduce the heat and simmer for 12 to15 minutes. When the crabs are done, shock them in cold water so they stop cooking. Then break each one into 4 pieces, with the pieces cracked to let the sauce in.
- For the cioppino: In a large stockpot over medium heat, heat the oil and cook the onions, fennel and bell peppers until lightly browned. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste and cook until it browns, stirring often. Add the tomato sauce, 4 cups water, wine, clam juice, lemon juice, sambuca, half the parsley, the chili flakes, salt, basil, oregano, pepper and bay leaves, and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add the pieces of cooked crab to the sauce and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the clams and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the fish and shrimp and cook until the shrimp turn pink, 4 to 5 minutes. DO NOT STIR. Remove the bay leaves, stir in the remaining chopped parsley and serve immediately with bread.