Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (2024)

By Marjory Pilley Published · Updated

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Italian Seafood Soup or Cioppino is an elegant, one-pot dream come true. It's chock full of seafood and flavor, low calorie, low-carb and easier to make than you could possibly imagine!

Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (1)

We had this delicious Italian Seafood Soup last Christmas Eve. It was divine and I could hardly wait to share it. But, I did. I waited. I wanted to save it for the "perfect" night.

Am I the only one who ends up having splurge dishes, like Broiled Scallops with a Parmesan Crust, Shrimp Couscous Paella or Crock-Pot Beef Bourguignon once or twice a year?

Upon further reflection, I decided this recipe should not follow the path of fine china or holiday dishes...the ones you only pull out for special occasions and guests.I'm all about celebrating every day and savoring life's moments big and small.

So, I promptly prepared another pot of seafood cioppino soup, for lunch no less, and took some pictures. It really wasn't much of an ordeal. It takes about an hour to make this one-pot soup and a good part of that time is hands-off simmering.

We thoroughly enjoyed it for lunch on Saturday. 🙂 It was sort of my own personal declaration that any day is a good day to enjoy a delicious meal you love with family and friends.

Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (2)

Tips to Make the Best Italian Seafood Soup

There are several keys to making this seafood cioppino stew spectacular (and conversely, not the creation it should be.)

  • Allow the vegetables and spices to simmer and meld together for a full 30 minutes. I've shortened this step when makingHomemade Vegetable Soup...and I am always disappointed. Since pricey seafood is involved, don't make that mistake.
  • Don't be scared to use live mussels and clams. They are a fun addition to this stew and very easy to work with.

Tips for working with Clams and Mussels: Buy them alive and store in the refrigerator in a bag that is open just a bit so that they get some air. When you are ready to cook them, if they are "closed" then they are good. If they are open a bit, then theymightnot be. Tap them on the counter and if they close up, then they are still good. The ones that don't open need to be tossed. Ours were already cleaned when I purchased them. Check with the store where you buy them for special instructions.

All that being said, you can easily substitute a can of clams.

  • Don't overcook the seafood and allow it to become tough and rubbery. It's added at the end to achieve perfection. The shrimp should just turn pink, the scallops no longer opaque and the shells of the mollusks should be open. Resist the temptation to go a bit longer "just to be sure."

Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (3)

What to serve with Italian Seafood Soup

Here are some serving suggestions to round out a dinner where seafood soup is the main attraction:

  • A nice salad, such asMassaged Kale SaladorHomemade Caesar Saladby Once Upon a Chef or
  • Sides such as green beans, roasted carrots,cheesy mushroom quinoa or mashed potatoes
  • Don't forget a good thick bread to sop up broth!
  • Finish it off with a decadent dessert like Flourless Chocolate Cake with Ganacheor Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

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📋 Recipe

Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (4)

Italian Seafood Soup

Italian Seafood Soup or Cioppino is an easy, elegant, one-pot dream come true. It's low-calorie, low-carb, gluten-free and delicious!

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 carrots sliced
  • 1 celery stalk sliced
  • 29 ounces diced tomatoes 2 14.5 ounce cans, petite diced
  • 32 ounces broth low-salt chicken or vegetable
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • 1 Tablespoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined, tail off (I used medium-sized shrimp)
  • 1 pound sea scallops
  • 1 pound cod cubed or other firm white fish, such as mahi mahi
  • 10 clams cleaned
  • 10 mussels cleaned and debearded

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.

  • Add onions, garlic, carrots and celery to pot and saute for about 5 minutes or until tender.

  • Add tomatoes, broth, wine, basil, thyme and oregano to the pot and stir to combine.

  • Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Stir in the seafood and bring to a boil.

  • Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until seafood is cooked through and clams and mussels have opened.

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Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1088mg | Potassium: 922mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4145IU | Vitamin C: 17.8mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3.4mg

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MARLA HOCKFELD

    To make this recipie just a little easier, can use Italian seasoning (which includes all three spices) and a bag of frozen seafood mix (sold at Smith's, Bakers, Sam's and Cistco).. need to allow time for the seafood to thaw overnight in the fridge.

    Reply

    • Marjory Pilley

      Great tips! Thank you!

      Reply

  2. Beth Lee

    Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (9)
    I love your encouragement to think of this as an any day meal and not just for special occasions! Wonderful post and recipe.

    Reply

    • Marjory

      Thank you!!!

      Reply

  3. Nellie Tracy

    Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (10)
    I've never had Cioppino but this looks incredible and I am definitely going to have to try it now!

    Reply

    • Marjory

      Yay! If you are a seafood lover, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

      Reply

  4. Denay

    Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (11)
    Oh my goodness! I haven't had Cioppino in so long. That needs to change right now! Your recipe for this traditional Italian dish is excellent. Yum. Yum!

    Reply

    • Marjory

      Thanks for your comment! I hope you get your seafood fix soon! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Marjory

    Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!

    Reply

  6. Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons

    Ahhh! I LOVE cioppino, and I've been craving it for so long! I made it for New Year's Day about four years ago, as eating seafood on that day is said to bring good luck, so cioppino should be LOTS of good luck. I vowed to make it every year on New Year's Day, but then we started taking vacations for that holiday, and it just didn't work out that way. I guess I'll have to find some other occasion for it 🙂

    Reply

    • Marjory

      Such an easy and healthy recipe...definitely need to find an occasion soon!

      Reply

Italian Seafood Soup {Cioppino} Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does Cioppino mean in Italian? ›

The word “cioppino” comes from the Ligurian dialect “ciuppin” and means “chopped, torn to pieces”. This unfussy soup was consumed by mariners and port workers in taverns and inns around the Ligurian harbors.

How long does Cioppino last in the refrigerator? ›

Make-Ahead: This cioppino is meant to be eaten right away. How to Store: This will hold well in the refrigerator covered up for up to 3 days.

What do you eat with Cioppino? ›

What do you serve with cioppino? A big slice of sourdough bread — buttered and toasted — is the traditional accompaniment and a nod to another iconic San Francisco food. However, cioppino can also be served over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

What is another name for cioppino? ›

Cioppino, bourride, brodetto, cacciucco, zarzuela, gumbo. Fish soup. Shellfish stew.

What is a substitute for fennel in cioppino? ›

Cioppino can be made with any combination of seafood (choose what is fresh that day, or what you enjoy). Any firm, white fish, or even salmon can be used in replacement of cod. Celery can be used in replacement of fennel.

Why is cioppino so popular? ›

Cioppino is a popular Italian-American seafood stew that originated in San Francisco, California. It is a flavorful and hearty dish known for its rich, tomato-based broth and a variety of seafood ingredients. Cioppino is often served with crusty bread or over pasta.

What is a substitute for fish stock in cioppino? ›

This can be replaced with additional fish or chicken stock. Tomatoes - Use crushed tomatoes as well as diced tomatoes for the cioppino base. Stock - Fish or seafood stock will bring the seafood flavors together well. You can use a mixture of chicken stock and clam juice instead if you need.

Can you eat leftover cioppino? ›

While I'm currently experimenting with ways to make this a dish I could make for meal prep, the mussels and clams definitely make it a dish that isn't great for leftovers (although if you want to try leftovers, you can toss any leftover mussels/clams and the rest of the seafood will stay for the next day- I tried that ...

Can you serve pasta with Cioppino? ›

Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil; add pasta and cook until al dente. Serve Cioppino over pasta and garnish with chives.

What kind of wine goes with Cioppino? ›

Cioppino is an Italian seafood stew, that was created and originated out of San Francisco in California. Because it is seafood you can expect it to pair well with white wines, especially fuller-bodied wines such as Friulano, Zinfandel, or Chardonnay.

Can you eat seafood soup the next day? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it.

Is cioppino high in cholesterol? ›

Discard any clams or mussels that do not open. Serve cioppino in wide bowls. Per serving: 617 calories, 47 gm protein, 38 gm carbohydrates, 24 gm fat, 4 gm saturated fat, 161 mg cholesterol, 1443 mg sodium.

What ethnicity is Cioppino? ›

Cioppino (/tʃəˈpiːnoʊ/, Italian: [tʃopˈpiːno]; from Ligurian: cioppin [tʃuˈpiŋ]) is a fish stew originating in San Francisco, California. It is an Italian-American dish and is related to various regional fish soups and stews of Italian cuisine.

How would you describe Cioppino? ›

Cioppino, a hearty Italian-American stew made with a medley of fresh seafood in a rich tomato and wine broth, perfectly captures the taste of the sea. Brimming with fresh seafood in a tomato and wine broth that tastes like the sea, cioppino (pronounced chuh-pee-noh) is a rustic Italian-American fish stew.

Is hoisin sauce the same as fish sauce? ›

Hoisin sauce

It has a slightly sweet flavor, so it is often compared to American-style barbecue sauce. Because hoisin sauce has an umami flavor, it may serve as a substitute for fish sauce. To substitute fish sauce with hoisin sauce, mix hoisin sauce with soy sauce at a 1:1 ratio.

Is hoisin sauce same as seafood sauce? ›

Though "hoisin" means "seafood" in Cantonese, hoisin sauce contains no ocean elements and is rarely used with seafood dishes. Chefs incorporate this delicious sauce in authentic Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cantonese dishes, and its versatility has earned it the title "Chinese Barbecue Sauce."

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