Cioppino

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Simmering the base of this rich stew in the slow cooker allows for ultimate flavor concentration. When you're almost ready to serve, add raw fish to poach quickly. A signature dish of the West Coast, cioppino can be made with a wide variety of fish and shellfish, so feel free to ­experiment with your favorites.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fennel bulb
• 10 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 pound chopped fresh tomatoes
• 2 (2-inch) lemon rind strips
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 (26-ounce) box chopped tomatoes (such as Pomì)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 3/4 pound cod, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 3/4 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 3/4 pounds bay scallops
• 12 small clams
• 12 mussels, cleaned and debearded
• 1/2 cups crabmeat

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add onion, fennel, and garlic to pan; cook 3 minutes or until soft. Add wine and tomato paste to pan, stirring well; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Carefully pour onion mixture into a 6-quart electric slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup water and next 8 ingredients (through boxed tomatoes) to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours.

3. Uncover; discard lemon rind and bay leaves. Stir in cod, scallops, shrimp, and lemon juice. Cover and cook on LOW 13 to 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Garnish with fresh basil.