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Cioppino seafood stew with clams mussels and shrimp in tomato broth

Italian-American seafood stew with tomato and wine

San Francisco Cioppino

San Francisco Cioppino

1h 5mMedium

Prep Time

25 min

Cook Time

40 min

Total Time

1 hr 5 min

Servings

6

8 cups

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Premium

$$$

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San Francisco Cioppino

Italian-American seafood stew with tomato and wine

A hearty tomato-based seafood stew loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, and fish in a garlic-wine broth. Born in San Francisco's Italian fishing community, this is the ultimate seafood celebration.

25m

Prep Time

40m

Cook Time

65m

Total Time

6

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Premium $$$

Cost

Italian CuisineMain CourseSoup & StewDairy-Free
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

February 25, 2024(Updated April 13, 2026)

Cioppino was created by Italian fishermen on the San Francisco wharf, using the day's catch in a communal stew pot. Today it remains one of America's greatest seafood dishes.

Why This Recipe Works

Building the broth with fennel and wine before adding seafood creates layers of flavor. Adding shellfish in stages ensures each variety is perfectly cooked rather than overdone.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb littleneck clams, scrubbed
  • 1 lb mussels, debearded
  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 lb firm white fish (halibut or cod), cubed
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup dry white wine, 1 fennel bulb diced, 4 cloves garlic

Instructions

  1. 1

    Sauté diced fennel, onion, and garlic in olive oil until softened, then add red pepper flakes and tomato paste.

  2. 2

    Pour in white wine and simmer 3 minutes, then add crushed tomatoes, fish stock, and bay leaves and simmer 20 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add clams first and cook 5 minutes covered, then add mussels and fish and cook 4 minutes more.

  4. 4

    Add shrimp on top and cook 3 minutes until pink, discarding any unopened shellfish.

  5. 5

    Ladle into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, scatter fresh parsley, and serve with crusty sourdough.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping

  • Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil

  • Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette

Substitutions

Littleneck clamsManila clams or cockles

Smaller clams cook faster, so add them later

Fennel bulbExtra celery plus 1/2 tsp fennel seeds

Fennel seeds add the anise flavor without the bulb

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.

This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Add seafood in stages from longest-cooking to quickest so nothing is overdone.

  • Serve with an empty bowl on the table for shells—this is a hands-on eating experience.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 1 day. Seafood stews are best eaten fresh.

Reheating

Reheat very gently over low heat to avoid overcooking the seafood.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (165mg) · 6 servings

Calories320
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein35g
Carbohydrates8g
Fat18g
Fiber720mg
Sugar2g
Sodium8g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen seafood?
Yes, thaw completely first and adjust cooking times down slightly.
What fish holds up best?
Firm fish like halibut, cod, or monkfish won't fall apart in the stew.

Explore More

More Italian RecipesMore Main CourseMore Soup & StewDairy-Free RecipesStovetop Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

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