An all-star recipe for fish stew with a Sicilian twist! The comfort of Italian flavors in one delicious stew cooked in a white wine-tomato broth with garlic, capers, raisins more!
In Italy, as in many parts of the Mediterranean basin, fish is often combined with tomatoes and other local ingredients to make delicious and quick one-pot-wonders like today’s Sicilian-style fish stew.
I’ll just come right out and say this now. This fish stew is best eaten with family and close friends because, if you eat it the right way–with crusty Italian bread to sop up the lovely sauce–it can get pretty messy. Finger-liking-good kinda messy!
This fish stew recipe is quite simple, but the balance of flavors is truly incredible. From lovely and familiar aromatics like onions and garlic–providing the glorious start to this recipe–to a hint of sweetness from golden raisins balanced with tart capers. All the while, a white wine and tomato-based broth marries everything together.
Sea bass fillet was my choice for this fish stew recipe, but you can use any firm white-fleshed fillets here.
I adapted this recipe from America’s Test Kitchen’s new book, The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook. Here’s a great tip I picked up: To prevent the fish from overcooking and drying out, it’s best to add the fish towards the end, when the stew is nearly done. Let it simmer until it’s partially cooked, then turn the stove off and cover the pot to let the fish finish cooking by residual heat.
Add a salad!
If you like, add a simple green salad to start the meal or try one of these:
Kindey Bean and Cilantro Salad; Mediterranean Chickpea Salad; Greek Salad or Fattoush.
More recipes to try
Mediterranean-Style Steamed Clams
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Sicilian-Style Fish Stew Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: serves 4-6 1x
Description
An all-star recipe for fish stew with a Sicilian twist! The comfort of Italian flavors in one delicious stew cooked in a white wine-tomato broth with garlic, capers, raisins more!
Ingredients
- Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 28-oz can whole peeled plum tomatoes, juice separated and reserved
- 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 2 tbsp capers, rinsed
- 2 lb skinless sea bass fillet, about 1 1/2-inch thick, cut into large cubes
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- 3 tbsp toasted pine nuts, optional
- Crusty Italian bread for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in 5-quart Dutch oven (like this one) over medium heat. Add onions, celery, and a little salt and pepper (about 1/2 tsp each). Cook, stirring regularly, until softened (about 4 minutes). Add thyme, red pepper flakes and garlic and cook briefly until fragrant (about 30 more seconds).
- Now, stir in the white wine and reserved tomato juice from can. Bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid is reduced by about 1/2. Add the tomatoes, vegetable broth, raisins, and capers. Cook for 15-20 minutes over medium heat until flavors combine.
- Pat the fish dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Insert the fish pieces into the cooking liquid, and give everything a gentle stir so that the fish pieces are nicely covered in the cooking liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat and cover. Let sit off heat for another 4-5 minutes so that the fish will finish cooking. Fish should be flaky when gently pulled apart with a paring knife. Finally, stir in the chopped parsley.
- Ladle the hot fish stew into serving bowls, top each with a few toasted pine nuts, if you like. Serve with your favorite crusty bread! Enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe adapted from The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook
- Recommended for this Recipe: Our Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)
- Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Entree/Soup
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean / Sicilian
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More Recipes to Try:
Mediterranean Fish Fillet, Shakshuka Style
Mediterranean Wholre Roasted Baked Red Snapper
Greek Shrimp Recipe with Tomato and Feta
This was fantastic. I used one can of low sodium chicken broth instead of the veggie broth, and a sprig of fresh rosemary, since those were what I had on hand. I can’t stop thinking of the flavor.
So glad you enjoyed it, Sharon. Thanks for sharing.
Love, love, love this dish! I’d like to share at a family holiday gathering. Does this recipe double well?!
Wonderful, JD! Sure thing, you can double this recipe. Enjoy! And please let us know how it turns out.
Fantastic! So much flavor in so little time really speaks volumes about your talents as a cook! My family enjoyed this recipe very much. I used cod and shrimp.
Oh thank you so much, Lisa! I appreciate it.
How did we miss this full flavor fish stew recipe from your kitchen??? Love the seasonings and how quick and easy it comes together. For sure this needs to get on the menu plan! Just pinned
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I love a good fish stew. Thank you for posting this. I have a nice piece of Cod and a pound of bay scallops that would be wonderful.
Wonderful, Kathy! So glad to hear it.
This was fantastic, and really simple. Great website.
Thank you, Leanne! Truly appreciate it.
I made fish soup the first time in my life and I liked it a lot.The next time I might omit the raisins. Personal preference.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Violet!
I would cook some chunks of Yukon Gold potatoes in the sauce, prior to adding the fish, for a more toothsome/sturdy dish, but it sounds delicious.
Sure, Patricia! You can tailor this to your needs!
I have Halibut fresh from Alaska — will this work as a good substitute?
Thank you!
Sure, Karen! As long as the fish is thawed properly
I LOVE this recipe!
I’m wondering if I can make it ahead of time (for Good Friday – we have church and then are hosting friends afterward). Could i make it up until adding the fish the day before, then reheat to hot, add the fish to cook it, then serve?
Thank you – I love your site!!!
Hi Kate! Yes, that will work!!! Enjoy!
Such an amazing stew with very complex and harmonious flavors! I’ll be making this often from now on. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Stephanie, thank you so much for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed it
So far, so good. Made up broth this AM for dinner tonight. I bi\ought Monkfish under the advisement of my fish guy ( couldn’t justify cost of Sea Bass. Fish Guy cut the membrane on the Monk Fish so it would be easier eating. Any thoughts? Altho’ by the time you get to this, we will have found out for ourselves?. Also thinking of a light sprinkle of Parm-Regg cheese for serving.
Hey Cori! Thanks so much for sharing. It sounds like your fish guy knows what he’s doing:-) Eager to hear back. I wouldn’t mind a sprinkle of parm either!
Delicious and easy to make! Only had red wine and fresh tomatoes and tomato paste, but it worked in a pinch. The family loved it, and it’s perfect as I transition to a Mediterranean diet. Would like to add more veggies, perhaps zucchini/squash; maybe at the same time as the fish so they don’t get soggy? Thanks for the recipe!
Enjoyed this delicious easy and hearty dish! Already passing it on!
Awesome, Joey! This is one of my favorites!
This sounds delicious. I plan to make it with cod and without the raisins. What wine pairs can you recommend ?
Enjoy, Tia! The raisins don’t make it sweet, by the way. They just add a little something subtle to round out the flavor. But completely up to you if you don’t want to use them. I like a lighter white wine with this, maybe a Pinot Grigio. I’m not a wine expert, but that’s what I like with it.
Can I substitute frozen cod (1 inch thick)? We don’t have much variety available. Mostly tilapia and some salmon
Hi Nancy. You can use a different fish here, but it will need to be thawed appropriately in the fridge before use. Enjoy!
My daughter and I had a wonderful dinner with your wonderful Sicilian fish stew and fresh bread. Thank you for the recipe! I will definitely make it again!
wonderful, Mike! So glad to hear you guys enjoyed it!