Cod, sausage and fennel cioppino

I am on another trek to try to empty out the fridge and freezer since I can’t fit another thing in any of them (I have another one in the garage) yet I still seem to go to the store and buy more food to make some recipe I just saw. I think I have a problem.
IMG_5744.JPGThis recipe I happen to have had everything on hand. Well mostly everything; I had made clam chowder last weekend so I picked up a few extra clam broth bottles so I had it on hand but I did have to buy the fennel bulb. I tend to always have some flash frozen fish in the freezer, it makes for a very quick meal during the week. I truly wish we had a fresh fish market close by but I have never had a bad flash frozen fish so I can’t complain.
IMG_5734.JPGIf you were wondering what Cioppino means you were not alone, I had to google it so I’ll save you the trouble.  Define cioppino: a stew of fish and shellfish cooked usually with tomatoes, wine, spices, and herbs. They are saying it came from San Francisco and is an Italian-American dish. It doesn’t matter to me who or where I just would like to thank them. The broth is so deep with flavor that I will most definitely be making this again soon!
IMG_5740Cod, sausage and fennel cioppino

2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces Italian sausage, casing removed – your choice sweet or hot, chicken, turkey or pork I used sweet pork
1 medium onion diced
1 small bulb fennel, trimmed and cored, sliced thinly – I chopped mine
½ cup dry red wine
3 cups bottled clam juice
1 cup marinara sauce – jarred or homemade
Pinch crushed red pepper
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 lb skinless cod cut into 1 inch chunks

Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat, add the sausage breaking it up, add the onion and fennel, cook until the veggies start to brown and the sausage is cooked through.
IMG_5735.JPGAdd the wine and simmer while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Reduce the wine by half. Add the clam juice, marinara and pepper flakes, bring to a simmer reduce the heat to low and cover, simmer until the veggies are tender about 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the fish into the stew, cover and simmer gently without stirring until the fish is flaky and is just opaque. Takes about 5 minutes.
IMG_5736.JPGI made my broth the day before and reheated it and then added my fish.  


Another wonderful recipe from Fine Cooking

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