Author Notes
While working as a private chef on Long Island, I used to make my clients a decadent cioppino with lobsters, shrimp, red snapper and wild bass. Once back home in my own kitchen, I found that cioppino to be a little too pricey. I simplified the recipe by instead using littleneck clams and sandshark, also known as dogfish, which is a delicious and very inexpensive alternative to any firm-fleshed fish. Ask your fishmonger for it! —cratecooking
Ingredients
-
1 tablespoon
olive oil
-
3 tablespoons
unsalted butter, divided
-
2
shallots, sliced into thin rings
-
2
cloves garlic, minced
-
2 pounds
sandshark or dogfish, cut into 8 pieces
-
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
-
1 cup
white wine
-
1 1/2 cups
homemade fish or lobster stock, or bottled clam juice
-
1 cup
tomato puree
-
1-2 dashes
hot sauce, optional
-
1
bay leaf
-
2 sprigs
fresh thyme
-
24
littleneck clams, scrubbed
-
2 tablespoons
chopped fresh parsley
Directions
-
Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the shallot rings and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
-
Lightly season the sandshark pieces with salt and pepper, remembering that the stock and clams will add their naturally salty brine to the dish. Add to the pot and sear on each side until lightly golden, turning once. You don't to move the fish too much as it will break up easily. Once golden, remove fish to a shallow bowl and set aside.
-
Deglaze the pot with the white wine and simmer over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, until most of the wine has evaporated. Add the stock, tomato puree, hot sauce, bay leaf, and thyme and bring to a boil. Add the littleneck clams, return the liquid to a boil and cover until the clams are cooked and open, discarding any that have not opened. Remove the clams with a slotted spoon and place in the bowl with the sandshark.
-
Continue to cook the sauce over medium-high heat until it has reduced and slightly thickened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter and season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce (if using) to taste. Return the sandshark and clams to the sauce and sprinkle with parsley.
See what other Food52ers are saying.