Classic Fish Stew 🐟🍅 Rustic, Brothy, and Deeply Satisfying With Coastal Mediterranean Soul

ByKarl S

This isn’t a creamy chowder or a thick bisque — it’s lighter, brothier, and built around the clean, briny flavor of white fish, tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and a splash of white wine. It’s the kind of dish that feels old-world and elemental — simple ingredients, layered well, delivering comfort with clarity.

Serve it with crusty bread to soak up the broth, and it’s the kind of meal that feels both humble and quietly perfect.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

For the base:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika or sweet paprika
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes

For the broth & seafood:

  • 2 cups seafood stock, fish stock, or chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1½ lbs firm white fish (cod, halibut, sea bass, or haddock), cut into chunks
  • Optional: ½ lb shrimp or mussels for variety
  • Juice of ½ lemon

To finish:

  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley or fennel fronds
  • Crusty bread, grilled sourdough, or garlic toast

Instructions

Step 1: Build the Aromatic Base

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5–6 minutes until softened.

Stir in garlic, chili flakes, and paprika. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes until deepened in color.

Step 2: Deglaze and Simmer

Pour in white wine and simmer for 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly. Add crushed tomatoes, seafood stock, bay leaf, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes until flavors meld and broth deepens in color.

Step 3: Add the Seafood

Add fish chunks gently into the simmering broth. Avoid stirring too much to prevent breaking. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until opaque and just cooked through.

If using shrimp or mussels, add them in the last 3–5 minutes. Discard any mussels that don’t open.

Finish with a squeeze of lemon and taste for seasoning.

Step 4: Serve

Ladle into shallow bowls. Garnish with parsley or fennel fronds. Serve with grilled sourdough or olive oil-rubbed toast for dipping.

Flavor Variations

  • Make it Provençal: Add sliced fennel and a pinch of saffron with the onions
  • Spice it up: Add harissa paste or Calabrian chili to the tomato base
  • Add starch: Serve over rice, couscous, or boiled potatoes
  • Go green: Stir in spinach, kale, or escarole at the end for contrast

Pro Tips

  • Use firm white fish — soft varieties will fall apart
  • Simmer gently once the fish is in — rapid boiling breaks it up
  • Wine should cook off before stock goes in — builds richness
  • Want deeper flavor? Sauté shrimp shells or anchovies first, then strain
  • This stew improves after 30 minutes of rest — let it sit if you can

Final Thoughts

Classic Fish Stew is rustic, nourishing, and built on honest flavor — a tomato-wine broth layered with herbs and briny seafood that speaks for itself. It’s coastal cooking with nothing to hide and everything to savor.

Simmer slow. Serve hot. Soak the broth. 🐟🍅🔥

🍲 Hearty Seafood Soups & Stews

From creamy chowders to fiery global fish stews, this is your deep-dive into warm, comforting, ocean-inspired bowls.

🦐 Seafood Soup Recipes (Main Hub) – Chowders, bisques, and brothy seafood soups from all over the globe.
🦞 Seafood Stew Recipes (Main Hub) – Bold, rustic stews loaded with shrimp, fish, crab, and global spices.

🍜 Seafood Soup Favorites

🌽 Shrimp & Corn Chowder – Creamy, sweet, and perfect for late summer or cozy nights.
🐟 Classic Fish Stew – Tomato-based and herb-laced, with hearty chunks of white fish.
🦀 Creamy Crab Bisque – Rich and luxurious with delicate crab flavor.
🌊 New England Clam Chowder – Creamy, briny, and loaded with clams and potatoes.
🍅 Spicy Tomato Seafood Soup – A fiery broth with shrimp and fish, kissed by chiles.
🥥 Thai Coconut Seafood Soup – Silky, spicy, and aromatic with lemongrass and lime.
🐟 Salmon Chowder – Creamy and smoky with big flakes of fresh salmon.
🫘 Portuguese Fish & Bean Soup – Earthy and savory, perfect with crusty bread.
🌶️ Mexican Caldo de Mariscos – Spicy, tomato-rich seafood soup with big Baja flavor.
🌿 Mediterranean Fish Stew – Olive oil, fennel, and tomatoes — simple and soulful.

🌍 Global Seafood Stews

🇧🇷 Brazilian Moqueca (Shrimp & Coconut Stew) – Coconut milk, lime, and dendê oil — totally unforgettable.
🇮🇹 Italian Cioppino – Tomato-wine base with crab, mussels, and white fish.
🇹🇭 Spicy Thai Seafood Stew – Deep, complex heat and umami in every bite.
🇪🇸 Spanish-Style Fish Stew – Saffron-laced and rustic, with tender fish and potatoes.
🦀 Crab & Corn Stew – Southern-style with sweet crab and hearty corn.
🦞 Lobster Stew (Maine-Style) – Creamy, luxurious, and surprisingly simple.
🇰🇷 Korean Maeuntang (Spicy Fish Stew) – Fiery red broth with tofu and tender white fish.

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

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