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Seafood Stew with Lobster, Crab and Halibut (Cioppino)
The traditional method of making Cioppino, Seafood Stew, is fairly straightforward. First, you create a flavorful broth then add the seafood and simmer for a few minutes before serving, but key to good flavor is a good fish or seafood stock, something the Italian fishermen who created this recipe had. In this version we begin by making the seafood stock then cooking the soup base, but we cook some of the seafood in the Convection or Convection Steam Oven. Why? Well when we broil or roast the fish in the oven the results are more flavorful and it’s easier to handle.
A good seafood stock will of course give the best result, and it does take a hour or more to cook but it can be made in advance. Purchase shrimp in the shell and use the shells for the stock. Adding in some lobster tail shells and the smaller pieces of the crab claws will yield a very good stock, and you can use the shrimp, crab and lobster in the soup.
Ingredients
Shellfish Stock
6 - cups assorted shellfish shells, shrimp, lobster and crab
1 - medium yellow onion, chopped
1 - carrot, chopped into large rounds
1 - celery stalk, chopped into 2” pieces
½ - cup dry white wine
2 - Tbsps tomato paste
2 - sprigs each thyme & Italian parsley
1 - bay leaf
10 - whole peppercorns.
Cioppino
3 - tablespoons olive oil
1 - medium yellow onion, diced
2 - shallots, diced
1 - fennel bulb, fronds & core removed, thinly sliced
4 - cloves garlic, minced
½ - teaspoon dried red chile flakes
4 - tablespoons tomato paste
1 - 28oz can whole tomatoes
1 - cup white wine
5 - cups shellfish stock
1 - bay leaf
2 - lobster tails, shell removed, flesh cut into 1” chunks (use the shell for the stock)
1- lb shell on uncooked large shrimp (use the shell for the stock)
½ - lb small crab claws and shell (for the stock)
½ -lb large crab claws for the soup
½ -lb manilla clams
1 ½ - lbs firm fleshed fish, such as halibut or rock cod, cut into 2” chunks
½ - teaspoon mixed Italian seasoning
1 - lemon zest only
Larissa Taboryski
Preparation
Place the shells in a large stock pot and add enough water to cover the shells by 1”.
Heat the water over moderate heat and keep it cooking at a very gentle heat just barely simmering for at least an hour. You should only see some bubbles come to the surface.
Avoid stirring the ingredients to keep the stock clear during this time but keep skimming and discarding the foam that rises to the surface. Cooking the shells slowly this way without stirring will yield a flavorful stock.
Once the stock is no longer releasing foam, add the wine, onions, carrots, celery, tomato paste, herbs and peppercorns. Continue simmering but do not boil for another 30 minutes, skimming off any foam that rises. Strain the stock through a fine mesh strainer and discard all the shells, season the stock with salt to taste and you are ready to make Cioppino.
Cioppino Preparation
Heat a large pan over medium heat, add the oil and saute the onion for a few minutes. Stir in the shallots and fennel and cook over moderate heat for about 10 minutes to soften the fennel. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for 2 minutes before adding in the tomato paste, tomatoes, wine, fish stock and bay leaf. Simmer for 30 minutes, breaking up the tomatoes as they soften.
Heat the oven in the Convection Roast or Convection Steam Mode 375 degrees.
Place the cubed fish, lobster tails and shrimp in a stainless mixing bowl, drizzle with some olive oil and season with the Italian seasoning, lemon zest kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Spread onto a rimmed baking pan and cook for 6 - 8 minutes. Add the clams and crab claws to the soup and simmer gently, when the fish and shellfish are ready gently stir into the soup together with the pan juices.
This recipe serves 6 and don’t forget the perfect accompaniment to Cioppino is sourdough garlic bread.
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Baked Chicken and Rice
There are many versions of chicken and rice dishes and Arroz con Pollo is one of the most flavorful, it's a perfect dish to feed a crowd. This recipe shows several options for cooking the chicken and rice in a steam or convection oven.
Larissa Taboryski
Ingredients
Chicken:
8 - pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (legs and thighs work best)
2 - tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 - teaspoon Kosher salt
½ - teaspoon granulated garlic
1 - teaspoon ground cumin
½ - teaspoon mild or spicy smoked paprika
½ - teaspoon ancho chili powder
1 - teaspoon ground turmeric
1 - teaspoon dried oregano
Set the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet, and combine the oil and spices in a small bowl and rub into the chicken.
Vegetables and Additional Ingredients:
1 - tablespoon olive oil
1 - large yellow onion, diced
1 - medium yellow pepper, diced
1 - poblano chili, diced (if you like some spice)
3 - cloves, garlic minced
1 - Portugese mild or spicy Linguica sausage diced
1 - 14oz can chopped tomatoes
1 - cup short grain rice or Arborio
2 - cups chicken stock
Garnish:
½ - cup Manzanilla Spanish olives
¼ - cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Preparation
Oven Options:
Cook the spice rubbed chicken pieces in the Convection or Convection Steam Mode while cooking the rice and vegetables on the cooktop. Cool and slice the chicken and combine with the chicken and pan juices with the rice. OR
Sear the spice rubbed chicken pieces in the Convection Mode while sauteing the vegetables on the cooktop. Add the rice and stock to the pan, nestle the seared chicken pieces in the rice and bake covered in Convection or uncovered in the Steam Oven for 30 - 35 minutes.
Oven Method 1:
Heat the Convection oven in the Convection Roast Mode or the Steam Oven in the Combination Convection Steam Mode to 375 degrees.
Cook the chicken for 25 - 30 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden.
When the chicken has cooled, slice it (or leave whole if you prefer) then skim the fat from the pan juices and stir the juices into the rice mixture.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice mixture.
Heat a large saute pan over moderate heat, add the oil, increase the temperature to medium high and saute the onion for a few minutes to soften.
Stir in the peppers and cook for a few minutes until the edges begin to brown.
Add the garlic and stir for a few minutes then add the sausage, cook for another minute or so then add the tomatoes and cook for 4 - 5 minutes.
Stir in the rice and add the chicken stock, cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes until the rice is tender.
Gently stir in the olives, add the chicken and garnish with the chopped cilantro.
Oven Method 2:
Sear the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet in the Convection Mode 375 (convection and steam ovens) degrees for 15 minutes and begin the rice preparation on the cooktop.
Saute the vegetables as directed above in a large ovenproof pan and once you have added the liquid, nestle the par cooked chicken pieces into the pan and scrape any cooking juices into the pan.
Cook uncovered in the Steam Oven in the Combination mode 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes until the rice is tender OR covered in the Convection Bake mode 350 degrees in a Convection oven.
Garnish as directed.
Serves 6 - 8
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