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.
If you like, add a simple green salad to start the meal. Or you can give one of these salads a try: Kindey Bean and Cilantro Salad; Mediterranean Chickpea Salad; Greek Salad or Fattoush.
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Sicilian-Style Fish Stew Recipe
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Prep Time: 10 mins -
Cook Time: 35 mins
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Total Time: 45 minutes
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Yield: 4-6
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 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
More Recipes to Try
Mediterranean Fish Fillet, Shakshuka Style
Mediterranean Wholre Roasted Baked Red Snapper
Suzanne says
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!
★★★★★
Joey says
Enjoyed this delicious easy and hearty dish! Already passing it on!
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Awesome, Joey! This is one of my favorites!
Nancy N says
Can I substitute frozen cod (1 inch thick)? We don’t have much variety available. Mostly tilapia and some salmon
Suzy Karadsheh says
Hi Nancy. You can use a different fish here, but it will need to be thawed appropriately in the fridge before use. Enjoy!
Mike Buirs says
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!
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
wonderful, Mike! So glad to hear you guys enjoyed it!
Anne Marigold says
I can’t thank you enough for this recipe. I’ve made it no fewer than 5 times for our big extended family dinner nights in the past few months. Everyone LOVES it, and I love that I can feel good about serving it to those who need to stick to a healthy eating plan. I’ve been making it with peeled/deveined shrimp and cod and it’s just lovely. I foresee this becoming a family classic in the years to come. Thank you!
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Anne, makes my day to hear this! Thanks so much!
Daphne says
My old boss used to make a baccala-type stew, but with unsalted cod, every Friday. Tomatoes, raisins, and onions were in the dish, and it was my very favorite thing in the entire world. I am glad to find this recipe.
Suzy Karadsheh says
That sounds great, Daphane! I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and let us know what you think!!
Mark says
Hi Suzy,
I’ll be making this again tonight. It’s become one of my Sunday favorites. Love your recipes, thank you so much!
-Mark
Suzy Karadsheh says
Mark, thank you so much! I am so glad to hear from you 🙂
Terry Ellis says
Is it possible to make this to freeze? I have a lot of fish in the freezer and would like to cook ahead some dishes for handy dinners but afraid it would be too much for the fish?
Suzy Karadsheh says
You can freeze this after you make it, Terry. I would use a good freezer-safe container with a good tight lid. I’m one who’s in favor of finishing fish as soon as possible, but there really is no reason not to be able to freeze it.
Kellie says
Made this tonight the whole family enjoyed, easy to make and lots of good flavour
Suzy Karadsheh says
Kellie, so glad to hear your family enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing.
Shelly says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe…Not only was it easy to make, but it was very favorful…I did add some Italian season, about 1 tsp and it was really good… Thank you again ?
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Shelly, thanks so much for your feedback! So glad you enjoyed it!
Kim says
This was amazing! Thank you for the recipe. And so easy. I used snapper and it was really good.
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Kim, that’s awesome! I love snapper, and glad you were able to use it in this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Sasha says
Great recipe!! Used red wine instead
★★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Great, Sasha! Thanks for sharing!!!
Mary Beth Moynihan says
I have added mussels, clams, and shrimp along with the fish. I have also added a splash of Pernod which really doesn’t make my stew very Sicilian but it’s oh so delicious.
Suzy Karadsheh says
Mary Beth, I love to hear how people adapt recipes! Thanks for sharing your additions, they sound wonderful!
Becky C. says
This stew had a very good flavor, but too much tomatoes for my taste. It just seemed like it needed something else added to it, although I don’t know what.
★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Glad you enjoyed it, Becky! The tomatoes are very characteristic of Sicilian cuisine, but you can certainly cut the amount down if you prefer.
Ida tesoriero says
Looking forward to your recipes.
Suzy Karadsheh says
Thank you! Glad to have you here!
jane l lawrence says
wonderful recipe, drop dead easy to make
and a very authentic taste! I used Spanish Mackerel and a crisp dry riesling.
Also splashed the juice of a fresh lemon over the servings at the table.
Nicola potatoes and fresh rocket to soak up the juices! Divine!
Suzy Karadsheh says
Jane, thank you for giving it a try! I am so glad you liked it!!! And thanks for sharing your ideas!
Louise says
I would love to try this but what can I use instead of white wine?
Suzy Karadsheh says
Hi Louise. You can probably try a quality white grape juice that’s not too sweet…I am not sure if you can find sugarless or unsweetened grape juice, but that may be ideal. And I would start with a lesser amount like 1/3 cup and go from there as you taste. Hope you enjoy it!
Roielyn says
I will definitely use this website as my e-cookbook on our trip to Sicily.
I am the one cooking our meals in the apartment. I love doing it.
Visiting the local mercato in Taormina has always been a treat for me.
Do me a favor and publish some more Sicilian recipes.
Sincerely,
Roielyn
Suzy Karadsheh says
Awesome, Roielyn! Enjoy your time in Sicily!
Julie Shain says
Awesome, great flavors! It took me a bit longer, but will definitely make again!
★★★★
Suzy Karadsheh says
Glad you enjoyed it, Julie! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
2pots2cook says
Fantastic photos ! Fantastic dish ! Thank you so much !
★★★★★