We love seafood, and now that the weather is getting chilly, making seafood stew is a great idea. Serve this tasty stew with crusty bread to warm yourself up this fall! In this recipe, crabs, clams, white fish, and shrimp infused with herbs were used, blending the flavors that will have your guests wanting more than one bowl!

Cioppino Stew

Seafood stew you can make on weeknights if you want a quick and healthy dinner!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp crushed red-pepper flakes
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 can whole peeled tomatoes with juice, crushed
• 1 1/4 cups dry white wine
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup bottled clam juice
• 2 pounds shell-on king crab legs, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 24 littleneck clams, scrubbed well
• 1 pound firm, skinless white fish fillets (such as red snapper, sea bass, or halibut), cut into bite-size pieces
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp (about 30), peeled and deveined, tails left on if desired
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add in thyme, oregano, red-pepper flakes, and bay leaf.
2. Add tomatoes and their juice, white wine, water, and clam juice. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add crab and clams. Simmer covered, until crab shells turn bright pink and clam shells open, about 10 minutes. Season fish with salt and pepper. Add fish and shrimp to stockpot. Simmer, covered, until fish is opaque and shrimp are pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Discard bay leaf and any unopened clams.
4. Remove pot from heat and stir in parsley. Season with salt and pepper.

Photos: Taste Food Blog, This Mama Cooks. Recipe: Martha Stewart.

We love using spices and herbs! From simple oregano and basil to nutmeg and saffron, there are many to choose from. There are spices and herbs that are common in every day dishes that we use almost every day. If you’re wondering which to stock up on, read our list!

1. Oregano

Oregano is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine, and it’s mostly used on pizza, as well as tomato sauce. Due to its strong flavor, oregano is best paired with other bold flavors to keep it from dominating the dish.

2. Basil

Just like oregano, basil is a staple spice that’s added to sauces and topped on pizza. Basil goes best with tomato dishes. Basil can also be paired with meats, fish, and salads.

3. Rosemary

Just as you would with oregano, rosemary is best paired with bold flavors since it has a bold flavor itself. You can remove the leaves from the stems and just add them like that to your dish, or you can chop them up to release the oils and thus more flavor.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative due to its ability to stop mold from growing. It can be used in savoy and sweet dishes like chili, beef brisket, or pumpkin pie.

5. Black Pepper

Black pepper is the most widely used spice in the world. Dishes with a cream sauce may require white pepper, which is a milder version than black pepper. Black pepper is usually added after the dish has been cooked.

6. Sage

Because of its minty taste, sage is often used in sauces for meant entrees like pork chops, chicken breasts, and turkey. It also goes well with squash and pumpkin.

7. Bay Leaves

Bay leaves were used by the ancient Greeks, and it’s commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. Bay leaves can be used in soups, meat stews, seafood dishes, and vegetable dishes.

8. Paprika

Paprika is a common spice used in the Balkans, Morocco, and even South Africa. It can be used in stews such as goulash, and it is also used in preparation of sausages. Paprika also goes well with tomato dishes, and in chili.

9. Onion Powder

Onion powder is simply ground onion with salt. You can use it in pasta dishes, pizza, and on grilled chicken.

10. Nutmeg

Nutmeg goes great in stuffings and sausages. It also pairs well with lamb, veal, and pumpkin.

Photos: Wikimedia, Evo Marketplace, Gourmandistan, Rhinobutt, Jones Garden, Free Food Photos, Amoils, Gujarat, Cooks.ndtv, Your Med Guide.