SUMMER SEAFOOD STEW

Summer Seafood Stew image

Yield Serves 12

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/4 cup olive oil
5 cups chopped onions
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice
3 cups dry white wine
3 8-ounce bottles clam juice
3/4 cup tomato paste (about 1 1/2 six-ounce cans)
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed
3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
24 littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 3/4 pounds cod fillets, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1/2 pounds uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 pound bay scallops
Chopped fresh basil

Steps:

Heat oil in heavy 8- to 10-quart pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices and next 8 ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until flavors blend and liquid is slightly reduced, about 45 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
Add clams to cooking liquid. Cover pot and cook until clams open, about 10 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Add cod, shrimp and scallops. Simmer until seafood is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season stew to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle stew into bowls. Sprinkle with basil and serve