Mediterranean Fish Stew 🍅🐟 Tomato-Rich, Herb-Bright, and Packed With Tender White Fish

Mediterranean Fish Stew is a warm, rustic dish built on a tomato-garlic base, infused with white wine, olives, fresh herbs, and flaky chunks of fish.

It’s briny and fragrant, light but hearty, and perfect for slow spooning on cool nights or summer suppers by the sea.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1½ lbs firm white fish (cod, halibut, snapper, or sea bass), cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano or thyme
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups seafood stock or water
• ½ cup pitted green or black olives, halved
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Chopped parsley or basil for garnish
• Optional: 1 anchovy fillet or a dash of fish sauce for umami depth

Instructions

Step 1: Sauté Aromatics

Heat olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic until softened, 4–5 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, paprika, and oregano. Stir until fragrant.

Step 2: Deglaze With Wine

Pour in white wine and scrape up any browned bits. Let it reduce for 2–3 minutes.

Step 3: Build the Broth

Add crushed tomatoes and seafood stock. Stir in olives and optional anchovy or fish sauce. Simmer gently for 10–15 minutes to deepen flavor.

Step 4: Add the Fish

Gently stir in fish pieces. Simmer uncovered for 5–7 minutes, or until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a spoon. Don’t stir too much — keep the fish chunky.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Ladle into bowls and top with fresh herbs. Serve hot with crusty bread, rice, or couscous.

Flavor Variations

• Add fennel bulb or leek for extra aromatic depth
• Use clams, shrimp, or mussels along with fish for a full seafood mix
• Stir in chickpeas or white beans for a heartier version
• Add orange zest or saffron threads for a Provençal twist

Serving Ideas

• With warm baguette or grilled sourdough
• Over herbed couscous or lemony orzo
• With a crisp green salad and vinaigrette
• As a starter course for a Mediterranean dinner menu

Pro Tips

• Use firm white fish that won’t fall apart in broth
• Don’t overcook the fish — add it at the very end
• Simmer gently — this is a stew, not a boil
• Leftovers deepen in flavor and reheat beautifully the next day

Final Thoughts

Mediterranean Fish Stew is rustic, layered, and soul-satisfying — tomato-rich broth, flaky fish, and briny olives working together in warm, herb-kissed harmony. It’s coastal comfort food, made simple and spoonable.

Simmer slow. Spoon deep. Dip crusty. 🍅🐟🫒

🍲 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.

🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.