Classic Cioppino is a hearty Italian seafood stew that became famous in San Francisco. San Francisco is one of our favorite cities in the world, with one of the key reasons being the food.
Of course, with the city snuggly tucked into the gorgeous San Fran Bay, the seafood is bountiful.
Every time we hit this magical city, we have to get a bowl of the heartwarming dish.
HOW TO MAKE CLASSIC CIOPPINO
Talk about a show-stopper of a dish.
Watch us show you how easy it is to make Classic Cioppino at home!
This amazing stew starts with with a sautéed trilogy of flavorful aromatics of onion, red bell pepper, and celery.
And that's just the start.
You'll need a large pot for this classic cioppino, and I really love using my large Dutch oven.
A SAN FRANCISCO STAPLE
Cioppino is a seafood lover's dream stew.
We love using fresh crab legs, and meaty mussels, delicious clams and shrimp, and amazing chunks of white fish like halibut or cod.
This stew is truly something to behold.
Cioppino was created in San Francisco by Italian fishermen. The history is fascinating...learn more here.
It's truly a gorgeous pot of deliciousness and is really a lot of fun to prepare.
The tomato base is so flavorful and intensely flavorful.
As this stew simmers on the stove, you won't believe the smell coming from your kitchen.
During our last staying San Fran, I found a couple of local foodie folks who shared their recipe for Classic Cioppino with me. I came home and played around with it, and this version is what we love and takes us back to the magical city by the bay every time.
It is a beautiful dish, and it even looks like it must be super labor-intensive to make - but surprisingly, it's really not. You'll need just a couple of hours to bring this iconic dish to the table. And talk about a great thing to serve during the holidays, or anytime you want something special for loved ones.
This is now an instant classic in our home. Try it...you'll love it. You can make the tomato base sauce the day before. Then just reheat, add the fish, and cook until ready (about 8 minutes)!!
Another awesome seafood dish is our Seaside Ceviche or our Braised Halibut with Kale, Beans, and Tomatoes
Classic Cioppino (San Francisco-Style Seafood Stew)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 medium yellow onions chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ red bell pepper cored, seeded, chopped (about ½ cup)
- ½ cup celery chopped
- ¼ flat-leaf parsley chopped
- 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes San Marzano are excellent, with juice
- 2 8 oz bottles clam juice
- 1 cup dry white wine Sauvignon blanc is good
- 2 bay leafs
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flake
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon about 2 teaspoons
- 12 small hard-shell clams in shell
- 12 mussels in shell
- 1 lb extra-large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 lb bay scallops
- 1 lb firm white fish fillets cod, halibut, haddock are all good choices
- 2 lbs fresh steamed crab legs
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, or preferably large Dutch oven, over medium-low heat, heat olive oil, then add butter and let melt. Add onions, garlic, bell pepper, celery and parsley. Cook until soft, about 8 minutes.
- Add tomatoes (break them up with your hands as you add them to the pot), and add the juice from the can.
- Add the clam juice, wine, bay leaf, basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and lemon juice; bring to just a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- NOTE: At this point, stock may be refrigerated, covered and kept up to 2 days before serving. Just bring the stock back to a boil about 20 minutes before serving, lower the heat, and progress with the recipe.
- Scrub the clams and mussels with a small stiff brush under cold running water; remove beards from mussels.
- Discard any open clams or mussels. Let cold water run over shells for 5 minutes (shaking every minute, or so).
- Gently stir into the sauce the clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and fish fillets. Cover the dish and let simmer for 7 - 8 minutes, until the clams and mussels open. Discard any shells that have not opened.
- Add the crab legs and steam until heated through, another 2 - 3 minutes.
- Try not to stir too much (it will break up the fish), and don't overcook!!
- Remove the bay leaves. Adjust seasonings
- Ladle sauce and seafood into large bowls and serve with toasted bread.
Christine says
Fantastic recipe. The only thing missing is the 1/2 cup of butter used to finish it just before serving. That’s why it’s so amazing in SF restaurants.
Rhonda says
Love this recipe. I share the sauce with my Godfather and he puts his own seafood. I make all the time.
Marina says
Wow!!! Ay mamá!!! I added lobster and a bunch of fresh herbs. We ate it with sourdough. Yum!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Joanne Tonge says
I haven’t eaten it yet but oh my god… the smell is amazing . I have to also say that everything yep everything I have cooked yours is delicious !
Joanne uk xxxx
Kris Longwell says
Joanne! You just made us Texas boys so happy!! Please let us know how the cioppino turns out! xoxo
Lisa says
I must say, this was delicious! I don't like pepper or celery, so I omitted them, it was fabulous! Not a drop left either time I have made it, even for my skeptical son. The broth is amazing. I think this would be great served over pasta. Best ciopinno recipe on the Internet! I used frozen seafood (scallops, fish, precooked shrimp, mussels in tomato garlic sauce) and then fresh clams. Simmering them in this heavenly broth, you can't tell the difference. Found your pin on Pinterest!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Lisa! That is so awesome!!! We are THRILLED you had such great success with our Cioppino recipe! That is truly one of our all-time favorite dishes to prepare! And yes! It IS amazing over pasta! Yum! Now we're craving cioppino! Thank you so much for letting us know how it turned out for you and especially for the wonderful review! That means the world to us!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
J Dewey says
This recipe looks amazing, and I can't wait to try it in our newly purchased Dutch oven. I have a question on a potential ingredient substitution. I cannot eat bell pepper (strangely enough, I can eat any other kind of pepper). Is there a specific type of pepper or some other flavorful addition that you would recommend to substitute for bell pepper in your recipe? Thanks!
Kris Longwell says
Hi there! So sorry for the delayed response! Honestly, there is so much flavor packed into this cioppino, you could omit it and probably never even notice it! If it were me, I'd add some chopped (seeded) fresh jalapeno, but that will give a tiny bit of heat. Poblano peppers are another great option, too, and those have very low spice level. Hope this helps and let us know if you make the dish and what you think. It's truly one of our all-time favorite seafood dishes in the world! Best, Kris & Wesley
Jess m says
Hello! You listed juice of one lemon but it doesn’t appear you share what to do with it. Just wanted to make you aware!
Kris Longwell says
Thanks so much, Jess!! We'll get that updated!! Thanks again!!! xoxoxo
Kiki Charles says
Hi Kris -
This recipe is amazing. It was my 50th Bday meal on 10/31. It has been shared with many of my friends. I am using it again for Christmas Eve as part of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. My question is, how many days in advance can I make the broth?
I will write longer review in the near future.
Thank you,
Kiki
Kris Longwell says
Hi Kiki! First and foremost...HAPPY BIRTHDAY (though a little belated!). We are THRILLED you are loving our cioppino recipe!! And your Christmas Eve sounds amazingly delicious! You can make the broth up to a couple of days in advance if you keep it in the fridge.
Merry Christmas and please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Januari says
So delicious thank you
Kris Longwell says
Hi Januari!! So so thrilled you loved the cioppino!! That is truly one of our all-time favorites! Thanks for letting us know and for the wonderful review. That means so much to us!! Stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
cindy hillesheim says
If using frozen seafood would I put it in frozen or should I add it in thawed?
Kris Longwell says
Hi Cindy, you can place the frozen seafood directly into the sauce, it will just need to slow simmer for about an extra 45 minutes to an hour. Let us know if you try it and what you think, or let us know if you have any other questions!
Gryphonisle says
Contrary to popular belief (expressed here) today’s San Francisco is not in any sense a city abundant with sea food, if you mean seafood caught off our coasts and in our (polluted) bay. These days, impoverished would be far more accurate. The crabs piled up in pre-Covid Fisherman’s Wharf are Oregonians, trucked in. So is most everything else that swims or crawls within the sea. Crab season begins around the holidays, these days, if algae or migrating whales aren’t an issue. California salmon season is just as brief, and centered in Summer. Oysters are generally farm raised and abalone are practically unheard of on menus—-where once they were a coastal bbq centerpiece. Most everything you see in San Francisco’s markets (including the Ferry Building’s now closed fish market) is shipped in, sometimes from great distance, by plane. Imagine my disgust a couple of Christmases ago to realize that shelled crab meat, in the local crab season, at Whole Foods AND the Ferry Building—-was canned! I kid you not! I saw them open the damn thing!
Tami says
Soooo sad to hear of this. Grateful for your comment. No surprise, most unfortunately.
Still, I am making this recipe today with a couple adjustments. Wish me luck!! Tho I totally wish I had some mondo bread bowls to serve it in 🙂
Sonia Clark says
This recipe takes a while so plan for it but it’s worth it! I bought Costco’s seafood packet from the freezer section and their crab that is already cracked in the deli Section and made his recipe. It was being in the Bay Area. Delicious!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Sonia! We agree, this is kind of a fun weekend recipe to make! But, man oh man, the effort is well worth it. Sounds like you made an amazing batch!! Thanks so much for letting us know and for the GREAT review. We appreciate that so much! Stay in touch and all the best, Kris & Wesley
Alex Nguyen says
Great recipes.
Kris Longwell says
Thank you, Alex!!
Peggy says
Making “chip in chopping” for a group....they will chip in the seafood
Kris Longwell says
Sounds awesome, Peggy!
Marcia says
I have a question, What could you substitute the White Wine with, if serving someone whose a recovering Alcoholic ??? Or do you really need the Wine?
krislongwell says
Hi Marcia, you could just leave it out, and it will still be delicious. When you cook the stew, the alcohol cooks out, but we completely understand, not worth even taking a chance. You'll still get an amazingly delicious stew without the wine. Let us know how it turns out!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Candy says
We don’t drink hardly any alcoholic beverages of of any kind. I do try to keep a bottle or 2 of a good red and white wine in my fridge. I do have a few friends who do NOT like the taste of wine even though the alcohol is cooked out, so I replace it with chicken broth. I believe it works well for many recipes.
Poppy says
U.S satellites bring most signals from global DVB. http://www.ateac.com/