Are you looking for a delicious and affordable way to enjoy the classic seafood dish, cioppino? This flavorful stew, traditionally made with a variety of fish, shellfish, and a rich tomato broth, can often be expensive to prepare. However, with a few clever substitutions and budget-friendly ingredients, you can create a cheaper version of cioppino that is just as delicious and satisfying. This article will provide you with tips and tricks for selecting cost-effective seafood, using pantry staples, and incorporating less expensive vegetables to create a mouthwatering cioppino that won't break the bank.
Let's cook with our recipes!
A CHEAPER CIOPPINO
Food columnist Renee Enna published this recipe which relies on less-expensive ingredients to create a toothsome fish stew. She suggests using whatever firm white fish is on sale, shredded crab to thicken the stew, and mushrooms to provide texture in place of shellfish. Serve with a crusty bread. I've made the salt optional and suggested low-sodium tomatoes to try to reduce the sodium level,
Provided by duonyte
Categories Chowders
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven and add the onion; cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the mushrooms, Italian herbs, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and cook until the mushrooms have softened, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes and wine and heat to a boil.
- Cut the fillets into chunks and stir into the soup, making sure all pieces are submerged. Reduce heat to a slow boil and cook until the fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the crabmeat, roasted red peppers and shrimp, if using. Continue to cook until just heated through, about 3 minutes.
- Taste - if acidic, add the sugar.
- Serve garnished with the parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 267, Fat 8.8, SaturatedFat 1.3, Cholesterol 75.3, Sodium 1014.9, Carbohydrate 17.5, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 9, Protein 27.1
CHEAPER CIOPPINO
Steps:
- Devein and peel shrimp, add the shrimp shells to a pot with water, halved onion with peel, chunked carrots, chunked celery bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until water level has been reduced by half. Strain with siv to retain stock. Place shrimp in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Thaw scallops in large bowl completely covered in milk. In a large pot, sauté onions, shallots and celery until the onions are clear. Add garlic and cook for 4 minutes. Add one cup of white wine and sauté on high heat for 5 minutes. Next add tomato Puree, Shell Stock, 2 Lemon Slices, ½ Lb of Lump Crab meat, Garlic Powder, Tomato Paste, Splash of Worcester Sauce, Splash of Balsamic Vinegar salt and pepper to taste, be sure to add enough pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and cook for 2 hours stirring occasionally. Add Basil, keep leaves large. Before Serving, add the remaining crab meat, scallops (strained and dried, then seasoned with salt and pepper), then the shrimp and cook until pink. Once shrimp are cooked, it's done. Serve with Bread. *** Note: Of course I deviated from my own recipe... Instead of adding the fish to the sauce, get a large frying pan with olive oil and shallots. Add all fish, when 3/4 cooked add white wine, then combine with sauce.
Tips for Making Cioppino Even Cheaper
- Use frozen or canned seafood. It's just as tasty and much more affordable than fresh seafood.
- Shop around for the best prices on ingredients. Compare prices at different grocery stores and online retailers to get the best deals.
- Use less expensive cuts of fish and shellfish. For example, use tilapia or cod instead of salmon or halibut.
- Add more vegetables to your cioppino. Vegetables are inexpensive and help to stretch the seafood further.
- Make your own fish stock. It's easy to make and much cheaper than buying store-bought fish stock.
- Cook cioppino in a slow cooker to save time and energy.
- Serve cioppino with a crusty bread or rice to make a complete meal.
Conclusion
Cioppino is a delicious and versatile dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients. By following these tips, you can make cioppino even cheaper without sacrificing flavor. So next time you're looking for a budget-friendly seafood meal, give cioppino a try. Your taste buds will thank you!
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