Seafood Stew with Tomatoes and Basil

By mimikd

This Italian-style stew - called cioppino - makes a hearty supper. Serve with a green salad, garlic bread and a crisp white wine!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups chopped onions
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 4 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 2 1/2 cups diced tomatoes with added puree
• 2 1/2 cups clam juice
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2-6 1/2 ounce cans of chopped clams, drained, liquid reserved
• 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 1 6-ounce can crabmeat, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
• Cayenne or creole seasoning

Preparation

Step 1

Heat olive oil in large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano,and fennel seeds and saute until onion is tender, about 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes, clam juice, white wine and liquid reserve from clams. Increase heat and boil until slightly thickened about 15 minutes.

Add clams, shrimp, and crabmeat. reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Mix in fresh basil and simmer until shrimp are just opaque in center about 2 minutes longer.

Season stew to taste with cayenne, salt and pepper.