Cioppino
I have a hidden talent that you may not know about me.
If a football game is on TV, I can actually APPEAR to be looking at the screen, but can be THINKING about something totally different in my head; completely detached from what is happening in the game. Some refer to this as the “football glaze over effect”, but I like to think of it as a gift; “productive thought management”, a little like meditation, where I get to plan and organize my thoughts. I use this time for things like figuring out what my menus for upcoming cooking classes will be, where I want to go on vacation next, and contemplating whether I should join a CSA or just continue to shop the farmer’s market and pick out what I like.
Occasionally, my husband will shout ” Oh my god, did you see that hit?!”
At this point, I snap out of it briefly to reply “~No~”
“But you were looking right at the TV” (my husband will say).
Like I said, it’s a gift.
Though I may not be a football fan, I am all about camaraderie. Whether its sitting on the couch with my husband while he cheers on his Broncos, or with a room full of super bowl party friends, I will be there, and I will help you eat the game day food!
When we lived in San Francisco, we would get together with friends and make a big pot of Cioppino for super bowl Sunday. This Italian seafood soup gets its amazing flavor by adding the freshest seafood you can find. I am using a combination of halibut, clams, mussels, and crab in this recipe, but remember, you have a lot of flexibility with this tomato based soup. The origin of this dish is taking the “catch of the day” and adding it to your simmering broth. So if grouper is fresh that day, go for it. If you want to add squid, great.
Cioppino is gratifying any day of the week, but especially enjoyable on super bowl Sunday. There are so many chips, dips, and other temptations, it’s kind of nice to finish with a bowl of soup, brimming with seafood. You have to save room for dessert, right? Check out these cute cupcake ideas from Jeanne Benedict !
So how about you…are you ready for some football?
What will you be eating?
Cioppino
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 large shallots, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
2 cups red wine
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup clam juice
1 bay leaf
1 pound lump crab meat
1 pound mussels, scrubbed, debearded
1 pound clams, scrubbed clean, grit removed
1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 1/2 pounds firm-fleshed fish such as halibut or grouper, cut into 2-inch pieces
Heat the oil in a very large pot over medium heat. Add the fennel, onion, shallots, and salt and saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste. Add tomatoes with their juices, wine, chicken broth, clam juice, and bay leaf. Cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
Add the mussels and clams to the cooking liquid. Cover and cook until the mussels and clams begin to open, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp, crab, and fish. Simmer gently until the fish and shrimp are just cooked through, stirring gently, about 5 minutes longer (discard any mussels that do not open).
Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.
6-8 servings
what a great “gift!” and this cioppino looks perfect!
ravenouscouple´s last blog ..Be Thui Recipe Vietnamese Roast Veal
Ha! I think I have a similar gift. It’s like I can just transport my brain to somewhere else and all is right with the world! Until someone shouts too loud about the game and I’m jarred back into harsh reality.
wasabi prime´s last blog ..FoodTrek/UnRecipe: Going Out and Staying In
This cioppino looks so good. I like fennel and I think it’ll make the soup taste great!
Roti n Rice´s last blog ..Pancake and Rice Cake Bento
Well, we won’t be watching football (bad Americans! bad!) but I’d be happy to eat this any day of the week! Really, really scrumptious.
Tasty Trix´s last blog ..Tunisian Tuna Tart; Plus, I Survived Day Two of Culinary School
This is a favorite of mine. The fennel is the ingredient that makes Cioppino shine!
Ed Schenk@ Detroit Eats´s last blog ..Honeybee Market
Oh my that IS a gift!- I HATE football and can’t even be in the same room it drives me so crazy!
I’ve never had Cioppino and I think it’s time to remedy that sisuation!~Mary
Foodo´s last blog ..Butternut Squash Soup
You make me laugh.
I’m totally the same way. 
This dish is GORGEOUS! 
Krista´s last blog ..Nigerian Stew
I do that at times with basketball. Cioppino for football Sunday? Swoon! Sounds so perfect.
Not a football fan at all, but certainly a cioppino fan! yours looks way to delicious to be wasted in front of the TV with a game on, it needs to be savored silently in a different room
)
citronetvanille´s last blog ..One slice, two slices, ten slices – Almond biscotti from Mrs. Lucia
I absolutely love Cioppino, with a crusty Italian bread to sop up the broth. Yours looks fantastic, Love your site BTW. ;-D
I was trying to plan a menu for the Superbowl – I’m going to serve this.
I’m in Az but my best friend is a Katrina survivor – I think this will be enjoyed.
Looks delicious…………
I’m not a football fan but I see what the Saints are doing bringing people together and I will support them.
YUM! cioppino is one of our favorite dishes here! i make it all the time!
wow!! thats like heaven in the bowl!! looks delicious!!
Cioppino sounds like a fantastic Super Bowl meal! That’s funny about looking at the TV, but not actually absorbing what’s happening. I do that far too often!
Cookin’ Canuck´s last blog ..Super Bowl Party Recipes: Chili, Wings, and Beyond
My go-to-favorite seafood meal. Yours is inviting me to dinner.
Claudia´s last blog ..Spaghetti All’Amatriciana – January’s Cover Girl Dinner
Love this recipe Debi! And I’m a veg… but I tell you my husband would devour it and lick his fingers clean… Great post too. I happen to have the same ability as you do ans i like your definition… Yes, it’s a “gift”!
Viviane Bauquet Farre / food & style´s last blog ..“Eat the Music” food series: Avocado and mango salad with Tequila-lime vinaigrette
Yum! Cioppino looks perfectly delicious! A fabulous meal for Superbowl!
Natasha – 5 Star Foodie´s last blog ..Cazuela Gaucho: Argentine Chicken Stew
Hi Debi:
Well ,thank you so much for your Twitter comment about my Saucy Momofuku post. That caused me to discover your web site.
Wow! I am so impressed. Everything about it is fantastic. I cannot wait for your Friends at the Table book to be released.
Thank you for the Cioppino recipe ( among all the others…). The Cioppino takes me back to San Francisco as well.
Looking forward to staying in touch. I will be adding your website to my SAUCY LIST of favorite sites on my blog.
All the best
SAUCY ( lobstersandwich)
I have no idea how I missed this one. You are truly gifted and very talented as your website, recipes and pictures are all outstanding. Loved reading about how table talk came about and your family. Amazing what you have accomplished and they must be so proud to have a mom like you! Awesome webpage. thanks for this awesome recipe!
pegasuslegend´s last blog ..Steak Omelet with Marsala, Mushrooms and Provolone