My Mum's Mum’s Cioppino
Submitted by: Chris Bowman / Victoria, BC
Who passed this recipe down to you? Jean Bowman
Recipe origin: California
How old is this recipe? c. 1940
The story behind the recipe:
This was my grandmother's Cioppino recipe (my Mum's Mum's Cioppino). Her nickname was Grumps (Gramps and Grumps). This dish is special because it costs a lot to buy all of the fresh sea food, and it's seasonal, but it's worth it. When you cook this recipe the house will smell amazing all day, and guests will salivate when they arrive. It was rare to have the whole family together in Victoria the last time I made this. That's Jean in the background - proud that I cooked it to perfection!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 cloves crushed garlic
4 tablespoons minced parsley
1 large can tomatoes
2 cans tomato sauce
1 cup dry sherry
1/2 teaspoon fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
salt
fresh cracked pepper
halibut cut bite sized without skin
clams
mussels
shrimp
cracked crab
How to make it:
Make sauce.
Simmer sauce until it begins to thicken.
It's better if you make sauce the day ahead and then allow it to rest.
About half an hour before you want to eat,
Slowly reheat the sauce until close to boiling - watch it doesn't burn.
Add your seafood.
My mum (Grumps) always said that you need to honor cioppino by having a glass of wine while cooking.
