Cheater Cioppino
 

This is super easy and quick enough to do during the week. Serves 4.

1 lg onion
1 green pepper
3 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
1 tsp fennel seeds (or more to taste, or diced fresh fennel if available)
1 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (or more to taste)
salt and pepper to taste

1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes
1 8 oz bottle clam juice
1 cup red wine

1 lb assorted seafood (I used a bag of frozen calamari/shrimp/scallops from trader joes, but you can add fresh/frozen fish, too, or whatever is on hand)

Dice the onion and pepper (and fennel, if using); mince garlic. Heat some EVOO in a large dutch oven and when hot, add the chopped vegetables and spices. Cook til softened a bit, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, clam juice and red wine; bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes. Add seafood and continue to simmer til cooked through, about 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings, and enjoy!

You can serve this over brown rice or quinoa, or just as a soup on its own.

ooooooooooooooooooo that sounds so delicious!

I think it unlikely to the nth degree that I'd ever be able to buy clam juice in England (this is Old England not New England lol) - could anyone think of a substitute? I'm dying to try this!

You know, I nearly needed to improvise when I made this last night (sent DH to look for it and after 3 stores, he finally found it). I was thinking had he not found it, I would add a few chopped anchovies to the onions/peppers/fennel and a cup of water with the liquid...

If you try that, let me know how it turns out!