Spicy Fish Stew

Name: Spicy Fish Stew
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon fresh garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon coriander; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers; 3 cups Pomi strained tomatoes (or canned tomato sauce, no salt added*); 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt; 2 (6 oz) cod fillets (cut into 2-inch chunks); 2 (6 oz) salmon fillets (cut into 2-inch chunks); 2 tablespoons parsley (chopped; or cilantro)

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This wonderfully flavorful spicy fish stew is one of my favorite ways to incorporate more fish into my diet.

You can use whatever fish you like and have on hand - I like to mix cod and salmon. This truly easy recipe is ready in just 30 minutes!

A spicy fish stew presented in a white saucepan with a striped napkin and a serving spoon.

This delicious stew is so very flavorful. And although quite spicy, the heat does not overwhelm the dish. Rather, the seasonings allow the delicate flavor of the fish to shine through.

It's a fun recipe to make because you can use whatever fish you like and enjoy. I like to make things interesting by mixing a mild white-fleshed fish such as cod with a bold-tasting fish such as salmon. But you can use just one type of fish if you'd like.

And if you're looking for more ways to incorporate fish into your diet, try these easy and delicious recipes for fish chowder, bacon-wrapped scallops, sole meunière, and smoked salmon mousse.

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Ingredients
Variations
Instructions
Expert Tip
Recipe FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Storing Leftovers
More Fish Recipes
Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this spicy fish stew recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here are my comments about a few of the ingredients:

Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. It has a higher smoke point. Another tasty option is to use butter or ghee.
Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. And if you happen to be out of fresh garlic, you can use a comparable amount of garlic powder instead.
Spices: I use paprika, cumin, coriander, and crushed red peppers.
Strained tomatoes: I recommend using either the Pomi or Bionature brands, although you could simply use canned tomato sauce. See the detailed discussion below.
Fish: As mentioned above, I use a mix of cod and salmon. But you can use whatever fish you like and enjoy.

The ingredients needed to make a spicy fish stew.

Variations

You can use avocado oil, butter, or ghee instead of olive oil.
Substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for minced fresh garlic.
Sometimes I use smoked paprika in this recipe. I like the smoky flavor it adds.
¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper is a good substitute for crushed red peppers.
Instead of cod, you can use haddock or halibut.
Rainbow trout is a good substitute for salmon.
Sometimes I substitute chopped fresh basil for parsley or cilantro.

Instructions

Making this spicy fish stew is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

You start by cooking garlic and spices in some olive oil. Cook briefly, just until fragrant. (Photos 1-2).
Next, whisk in tomato sauce and salt and bring the mixture to a boil. (Photo 3).
Add chunks of fish. Make sure to spoon the sauce on top of the fish. (Photos 4-5).
Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the fish is cooked through. This should take about 15 minutes. (Photo 6).

A six-photo collage showing the steps for making a spicy fish stew.

Expert Tip

While you can make this recipe with regular canned tomato sauce, I prefer to use strained tomatoes by one of two Italian brands - Pomi or Bionature.

These tomatoes are smooth, flavorful, and sweet. A domestic US tomato sauce will be more acidic.

Recipe FAQs

What type of fish works best for a stew?

It's best to use firm, white-fleshed fish that can hold its shape during cooking. Some options include cod, halibut, haddock, and, sea bass.

In addition to white-fleshed fish, I like to add salmon or rainbow trout for variety.

Can I use frozen fish?

Yes, but not too frozen for you to cut them into chunks. I like to use partially frozen fish because it makes them easier to cut.

So I defrost them the night before in the fridge, and by the time I'm ready to use them, they're just a bit frozen.

Keep in mind that after adding frozen fish, it will take slightly longer for the stew to come back to a boil.

Should I remove the skin from the fish?

You could, but you don't have to. As you can see in the video below, I used skinless cod and skin-on salmon. Both options are fine. The skin won't crisp up, obviously, but it will be very tasty.

Can I adjust the level of spiciness in the stew?

Yes, absolutely. If you like heat, you can increase the red pepper flakes - try adding a pinch at a time and see if you like it. If you don't like spicy food, you can omit the red pepper flakes or use just ¼ teaspoon of them.

Serving Suggestions

Obviously amazing with crusty bread, for us low carbers this stew is thoroughly enjoyable when simply eaten with a spoon!

It's also nice with some almond flour biscuits or with thick, buttered slices of almond flour bread.

And yet another option is to serve this stew on top of cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower, or sauteed spinach.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them very gently, covered (to prevent splatters), in the microwave at 50% power.

A spicy fish stew served in a white saucepan and topped with chopped parsley.

More Fish Recipes

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