Japanese Seafood Stew

CIOPPINO

Steps:

• Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large stockpot, add onions, garlic and parsley. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until onions are soft.
• Add tomatoes to the pot (break them into chunks as you add them). Add chicken broth, bay leaves, basil, thyme, oregano, water and wine. Mix well. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir in the shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and crabmeat. Stir in fish, if desired. Bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 5 to 7 minutes until clams open. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with warm, crusty bread!

SUMO STEW (CHANKO NABE) WITH SHRIMP, MEATBALLS, AND BOK CHOY

Steps:

• Cook udon in a medium pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Transfer udon to a colander to drain; reserve cooking liquid in pot. Transfer udon to a large bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp. oil.
• If using eggs, cover pot and return cooking liquid to a boil. Add eggs and cook at a low boil until soft-boiled, about 6 minutes. Transfer eggs to a large bowl of ice water to cool, then peel and reserve.
• Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over medium-high. Sauté mushrooms and 1/4 tsp. salt until lightly browned and moisture releases, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Stir in miso, then add chicken broth. Stir in kombu, if using, soy sauce, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Cover, bring to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes.
• Add meatballs and carrots. Cover and continue to simmer until meatballs are just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove kombu from broth and discard.
• Stir in bok choy and vinegar, if using. Place fish on top of stew, then cover and cook 3 minutes. Gently fold in shrimp (try to avoid breaking up fish) and cook, covered, until shrimp is pink and fish is opaque and cooked through, about 3 minutes more.
• Divide stew among bowls. Slice eggs in half lengthwise and top each bowl with 2 halves. Sprinkle with scallions. Serve udon in large bowl for sharing alongside.

JAPANESE SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Soak noodles in warm water for 20 minutes.
• Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact. Cut fish into bite-size pieces. Remove stems from mushrooms; halve or quarter large caps.
• Tie kale stems together with kitchen string; blanch in lightly salted boiling water for 10 seconds. Drain; rinse under cold running water. Squeeze water from kale. Trim off tied stems.
• Cut kale bundle and scallions into 2-inch lengths. Drain noodles and cut into 4-inch lengths.
• Mix dashi, mirin, and soy sauce in flameproof casserole. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to maintain steady simmer. Add scallions, carrots, and kale; simmer 3-4 minutes. Add mushrooms and then pieces of fish, one at a time. Simmer 1 minute, skimming any foam from surface. Add shrimp; simmer 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in noodles. Cover pot and bring to table.