A classic Italian-American seafood stew featuring a variety of fresh fish and shellfish in a savory, saffron-scented tomato broth. Built on a rich homemade stock with a hint of fennel and spice, it’s a deep and flavorful coastal classic.
Prep 25 minutesmins
Cook 1 hourhr25 minutesmins
Seafood Stock Simmer 45 minutesmins
Total 2 hourshrs35 minutesmins
Equipment
Cassadou pan
fine mesh strainer
large bowl
dutch oven
pan
baking sheet
Ingredients
Seafood Stock
tails from shrimp
2tbspblack peppercorns
½cupwhite wine
1onionchopped
2celery ribschopped
2carrotschopped
2bay leaves
salt and pepperto taste
8cupswater
Cioppino Base
4ozpancettadiced
1tspolive oil
1onionminced
2shallotsminced
2tbsptomato paste
2tbspcalabrian chili paste
½tspsaffron
1fennel bulbshaved
4garlic clovesthinly sliced
1cupwhite wine
28ozroasted tomatoescrushed
reserved halibut skin
1tbsptarragon
2tbspbutter
Garlic Oregano Bread
8slicesciabatta
8tbspunsalted butterroom temperature
½tspgarlic powder
1tspdried oregano
pinchof salt
Seafood & Garnish
12ozskin-on salmon
8scallops
1lbshrimp
12ozskin-on halibutskin removed and reserved
1lbblack musselswashed and debearded
black pepperto taste
chiveschopped
Instructions
Make the Seafood Stock: Preheat a cassadou pan with olive oil. Add shrimp shells and peppercorns. Deglaze with ½ cup white wine. Add onion, celery, carrots, bay leaves, salt and pepper, and water. Simmer covered for 45 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl, discard the solids and reserve the liquid.
2 tbsp black peppercorns, ½ cup white wine, 1 onion, 2 celery ribs, 2 carrots, 2 bay leaves, salt and pepper, 8 cups water, tails from shrimp
Build the Base: Preheat a dutch oven on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add olive oil and pancetta. Sauté on medium-low for 5 minutes. Add minced onion and shallots. Sauté for 5 minutes.
Sauté: Add tomato paste, Calabrian chili paste, saffron, fennel, and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil. Cook on medium for 5 minutes. Pour in 1 cup white wine to deglaze.
2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp calabrian chili paste, ½ tsp saffron, 1 fennel bulb, 4 garlic cloves, 1 cup white wine
Simmer the Broth: Add crushed tomatoes, prepared seafood stock, and reserved halibut skin. Lower heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
28 oz roasted tomatoes, reserved halibut skin
Prepare Garlic Bread: Combine 8 tbsp butter, garlic powder, oregano, and salt. Spread onto ciabatta slices. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 10-15 minutes until golden.
8 slices ciabatta, 8 tbsp unsalted butter, ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, pinch of salt
Cook the Seafood: Preheat a pan on medium-high heat with olive oil. Sear salmon skin-side down until crispy, flip, and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Sear scallops, shrimp, and halibut pieces for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and opaque.
12 oz skin-on salmon, 8 scallops, 1 lb shrimp, 12 oz skin-on halibut
Finish the Stew: Add tarragon, 2 tbsp butter, and mussels to the dutch oven. Cover and cook until mussels open. Discard halibut skin and any unopened mussels.
1 tbsp tarragon, 2 tbsp butter, 1 lb black mussels
Assemble: Divide seafood into bowls. Ladle sauce over the top. Garnish with black pepper and chives. Serve with garlic oregano bread.