Easy Cioppino Recipe

Cioppino is a delicious Italian-American seafood stew, similar to bouillabaisse. It was invented in San Francisco, but is based on a number of regional Italian fish stews.

Traditionally, cioppino is made from the catch of the day, whatever it was, and as a result, it is delicious with almost any type of seafood.

This recipe is fast, easy, healthy, AND it tastes like something you'd shell out megabucks for in a 4 star restaurant. Can't get better than that!

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp. basil
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• black pepper to taste
• 1-2 pounds seafood of choice

Prepare the vegetables and saute them in olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat until they begin to soften, about five minutes. Add the can of crushed tomatoes, with a slightly lesser amount of water. Add the spices, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer approximately 15 minutes. Add your seafood of choice, stir, and simmer another 5-10 minutes, or until seafood is cooked through.

Serve warm with a good, crusty bread. (I recommend sourdough.)

Makes about 6 servings.