Description
Seafood Cioppino is a tomato-based stew that combines various types of seafood, such as fish, shellfish, and crustaceans, cooked in a flavorful broth. The dish originated in San Francisco during the late 19th century, when Italian immigrants began adapting their coastal seafood stews to the local catch. The name “Cioppino” comes from the Italian word “ciuppin,” which means “to chop,” referencing the variety of chopped seafood in the dish.
Ingredients
🐚 Seafood (mix & match, but this combo is traditional)
1 lb (450g) firm white fish (halibut, cod, sea bass, or snapper), cut in chunks
1 lb mussels or clams, scrubbed & debearded
½ lb shrimp (peeled + deveined)
½ lb sea scallops (optional)
½ lb crab legs or lump crab meat (Dungeness is classic)
Optional: calamari rings, lobster tails, or scallops
🍅 Broth Base
2–3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced (or 2 celery stalks if no fennel)
1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 cup dry white wine
1 can (28 oz / 800g) crushed tomatoes
2 cups seafood stock (or chicken/vegetable)
1 cup clam juice (or extra stock)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil (or a sprig of fresh)
Salt + pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Crusty sourdough or baguette for serving
Instructions
Start the broth
In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Sauté onion, fennel, and bell pepper ~5 minutes until softened.
Add garlic + red pepper flakes; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
Build the base
Pour in the wine, scrape up browned bits, simmer 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, stock, clam juice, bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt + pepper.
Simmer 20–30 minutes to deepen flavor (can be made ahead to this point).
Add seafood in stages (important!)
Add clams/mussels first → cover and cook 5–7 min until they begin to open.
Add fish & crab → cook 3–4 min.
Add shrimp & scallops last → cook 2–3 min until just opaque.
Discard any mussels/clams that do not open.
Finish & serve
Taste broth, adjust seasoning.
Ladle into warm bowls, garnish with parsley, serve with toasted bread for dipping.
Notes
This rich and flavorful seafood cioppino is perfect for a cozy Christmas Eve dinner! Serve it with crusty bread to soak up the savory tomato broth, and pair with a glass of white wine for a festive touch. Fresh seafood makes it extra special for holiday celebrations. 🦐🦑🍅
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Soup/Stew
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 280
Keywords: Christmas Eve Cioppino, Seafood Stew, Italian-American Cioppino, Holiday Seafood Stew