Cioppino

I. Love. Cioppino. So. Much.
But it’d be so damn expensive to actually make.

Here’s my simplified version.
Serves 2

Ingredients:

• ½ pound calamari
• 4 fillets anchovy (about 1/3 of a can)
• ½ can tomato sauce
• ½ can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup milk
• A handful of basil.
• Like the cilantro, I cut and froze my basil in water. I used two cubes.
• Salt and pepper

1) Clean and cut calamari into bite size chunks.

2) Heat some oil in a skillet and cook calamari until tender. About 5 minutes (don’t forget to salt and pepper).

3) In a small pot combine tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.

4) After tomatoes are heated add calamari.

5) Chop anchovy into small pieces.

6) Add salt, pepper, basil, and anchovy.

7) Add milk. Let come to a simmer.

8) Serve.

Side note I: I served it with a biscuit but a slice of French or sourdough bread would be great too.

Cost breakdown:

• Calamari: $2.49/lb x ½ lb= $1.25
• Anchovy: $1.59/3= $0.53
• Tomato Sauce: $0.99/2= $0.50
• Diced Tomatoes: $1.19/2= $0.60
• Milk: $2.39/8= $0.30 
• $0.30/2= $0.15
• Basil: $0.99/14= $0.07 
• $0.07x2= $0.14
• Biscuit: $0.10 (See http://foodieambitions.blogspot.com/2013/06/im-southern-not-really-but-i-wish-i-was.html for full breakdown)

Total: $1.25+ $0.53+ $0.50+ $0.60+ $0.15+ $0.14= $3.17
Total per serving: $3.17/2= $1.59 per serving
Per serving+ Biscuit: $1.59+$0.10= $1.69