Have you ever noticed there seems to be a correlation between the holidays and cold and flu season? This is the time of year when we celebrate a little harder and sleep a lot less. It’s a particularly strenuous time of year for the cooks in the family. The gathering hordes may be heartwarming, but it’s easy to forget we have to feed the assembled generations. To those who celebrate Christmas, the three major meals of the season – Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas brunch and Christmas dinner – can quickly become a 24-hour marathon. You’re going to need a creative culinary compromise if you plan to get through without developing chronic fatigue syndrome. How about a make-ahead Cioppino elegant enough for Christmas Eve?
Make-Ahead Cioppino
In my opinion, a make-ahead Cioppino is a more convenient spin on the traditionally opulent Italian celebration the Feast of the Seven Fishes. In keeping with tradition, this version is loaded with fresh seafood. It’s easy to prepare the base a couple of days in advance, then marinate the seafood in that base the night before, and then simply slide the pot into the oven about an hour before you’re ready to eat. You’ll get the satisfaction of claiming everyone’s attention as you place a jumble of crab legs and chunks of fish in a steaming red broth onto the holiday table. With an easy to amend variation of seafood, it’s a great way to tick off the required number of fishes for that time-honored Italian holiday feast. Don’t forget the crusty sourdough bread and an elegant Pinot Noir with low tannins and bright acidity.
The best news for the busy cook is there is no single recipe for Cioppino. Whether it’s brothy or saucy, spicy with peppers or sweet with fennel, cioppino is a guaranteed success for a holiday meal. A tomatoey broth and a variety of seafood are the only mandatory elements. So stay healthy and take the stress off the season. Create your own make-ahead Cioppino. GREG
The cioppino could also be finished on the stove rather than the oven. Though be careful, the direct heat on the bottom of the pot will require you to stir the stew gently several times. This may cause the chunks of fish to break apart.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion (peeled and diced)
- 1 thinly sliced fennel bulb (about 1 cup)
- 1 large leek (white and light green parts halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons, rinsed)
- 1 red bell pepper (seeded and diced)
- 4 clove garlic (peeled and minced)
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- kosher salt and ground black pepper (as needed for seasoning)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 cup clam juice
- 2 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1–2 teaspoon red Tabasco sauce (to taste)
- 2 pound local thick-fleshed skinless fresh raw fish (such as a mixture of mahi mahi, salmon, halibut, and cod), cut into 2‑inch chunks
- 1 pound fresh raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 pound bay scallops, or squid cut into 1‑inch rings
- 1 pound fresh raw clams and/or mussels (in shell) optional
- 6–8 steamed, cracked king crab legs (1 per person) optional
- chopped parsley (to taste)
- grated Parmesan cheese (as needed for serving) optional
- crusty bread (as needed)
Directions
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions, fennel, leeks and red bell pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 4–5 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, oregano, red pepper flakes and thyme, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and saute until the mixture becomes fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. When the tomato paste starts sticking to the pot, pour in the white wine, scraping to incorporate the stuck bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil and cook until the wine is reduced by half.
Add the clam juice, broth, and tomatoes, and stir well. Bring to a boil; lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce, and red wine vinegar. Remove from heat and cool completely. You can either do this one or two nights before you plan to serve the cioppino; refrigerate base until needed.
The morning of or the night before you plan to serve the cioppino, place the fish, shrimp, and scallops and/or squid into a large ovenproof Dutch oven. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and pour the cooled base on top, fully submerging the seafood in the liquid. Top with some additional water or broth if necessary. Refrigerate until ready to proceed.
To serve, preheat the oven to 400° and bring the refrigerated cioppino to room temperature. Bake with the lid on for about 45 minutes, until fish, is cooked through and broth is hot. Remove the lid, add clams or mussels (if using). Replace the lid and cook for 5–10 more minutes until the clams and/or mussels (if using) have opened (discard any that don’t open).
Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese (if using), cracked crab legs (if using), and crusty bread.
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It looks like the crab is done on the side as it’s not in with the rest of the dish and doesn’t look like it’s all wet from the sauce. Can you clarify for me how the crab is done?
The first time I had Cioppino was in San Francisco. Last Christmas Eve, I wanted the feast of the 7 fishes for my Italian American family & thought of Cioppino. I looked at all the recipes & yours looked like the most authentic, so I made it & all my family was very impressed & raved about the stew. I always have Christmas eve & my oldest grandson asked if I would make it this year, & of course I said yes. Your recipe is amazing & all of my kids & in-laws love your recipe. Thank you for making the FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES so easy to do. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
I’ve never had this dish. It looks delicious.
I would have never thought to make it ahead of time. Fabulous!
Perfect suggestion and perfect photos ! Thank you and have a pleasant day !
Cioppino! Ny gramma always made this, such fond memories. It’s been ages, but when you said, “ You’ll get the satisfaction of claiming everyone’s attention as you place a jumble of crab legs and chunks of fish in a steaming red broth onto the holiday table.” I was hooked again!
I love Cioppino! Never thought to make it ahead of time though — great idea. And you make yours nice and spicy (both Tabasco and red pepper flakes). You the man! BTW, I’m taking off for the rest of the year, so I want to wish you happy holidays!
Enjoy! GREG
Brilliant photography, I wish that I had half your skills.
I love make-ahead for the holidays and breaking tradition with cioppino!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy 2017, my friend! xo
I absolutely adore bouillabaise, so I’m guessing this would be a winner in my book! The combination of all the ingredients must make for a complex broth, perfect for dipping crusty bread which in my opinion is mandatory! I might even serve a smoked paprika and garlic aioli just because. Such a beautiful and festive dish, Greg. Merry Christmas, hope you have a happy and healthy New Year. XOXO
Yes a little rich aioli would make a wonderful addition. GREG
I love that you bake this in the oven, although perhaps that is traditional and I just never knew it! I definitely look forward to trying this soon.
Stovetop is traditional. This is the first time I tried it in the oven. The oven works better for the make-ahead versions. If I were making it all at once I’d stick to the stovetop. GREG
Great minds think alike. I am making cioppino for Christmas dinner.
Your cioppino might usurp our traditional shrimp bisque this Christmas Eve — love the make ahead aspect. Merry Christmas and stay healthy.