Cioppino with Northern Pike

Some people call it “fish stew”, and it is considered an elegant dish in many circles, but the roots of true Cioppino lead back to Italian immigrants who settled near San Francisco in the late 1800’s. The story goes that when a fisherman came back empty-handed, they would walk around with a pot asking other fisherman to share what they could from their catch, and the bounty of the sea was transformed into a hearty dish thanks to tomato and fresh herbs. Use your Northern Pike in this version by Tim Kraskey of Maple Grove, Minnesota.