Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 1 1/2 cups fish stock or water
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon each minced fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 medium-size Dungeness crab, cracked and separated into sections
  • 1 pound shrimp, heads on
  • 1 1/2 pounds halibut, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1 black sea bass
  • 1 dozen mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded
  • 1 dozen hard-shell clams, scrubbed
  • 3/4 pound sea scallops, in shell
  • Fresh lemon juice to taste

Method

  • Heat the oil in a large casserole set over moderate heat.
  • Add the onions, pepper, garlic and salt and pepper and cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Add the tomatoes, red wine, stock, tomato paste, 1/2 cup of the parsley, the rosemary, thyme and oregano, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes.
  • Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
  • Add the crabs, shrimp, halibut, and sea bass to the casserole and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
  • Add the mussels, clams, and scallops and simmer.
  • covered, for 10 minutes more, or until mussels, clams, and scallops open.
  • Correct the seasoning adding lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Sprinkle with remaining parsley.
  • Recommended drink: 1994 Wild Horse Tocai Friulano