Best Nor Cal Cioppino Recipes

Nor Cal Cioppino 2 image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Time 1h55m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

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
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

Steps:

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.

Nor Cal Cioppino image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Categories main-dish

Time 3h50m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

1/4 cup olive oil
4 cups diced yellow onions
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced fennel
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup minced garlic
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 cups red wine
6 cups tomato sauce (recommended: San Marzano)
1/2 cup clam juice
1/4 cup lemon, juice
4 cups water
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons red chili flakes
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
1-ounce Sambuca liqueur
4 pounds Dungeness crab, whole, cooked, cleaned, cracked and broken into 4 pieces
2 pounds littleneck clams, cleaned and scrubbed
2 pounds firm white fish, like cod or halibut, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 pounds shrimp, shell on, deveined
1 cup coarsely chopped Italian parsley leaves
Fresh bread, for serving

Steps:

In a large stock pot over medium heat, add oil and saute onions, fennel, pepper and garlic until lightly browned. Add tomato paste and continue to cook until it browns. Add wine, tomato sauce, clam and lemon juices, water, bay leaves, red chili flakes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and liqueur to the sauteed vegetables and simmer for 1 hour. Add crab to the sauce and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Add clams and let simmer for 5 minutes, then add in cod and cook 4 to 5 minutes. DO NOT STIR. To finish add, shrimp.
Let cook 3 to 4 minutes until shrimp turn pink. Stir in parsley and serve immediately with fresh bread.