Mediterranean Fish Stew with Garlic Toasters Recipe

Introduction

This Mediterranean fish stew bursts with fresh flavors from halibut, clams, and prawns, simmered in a rich tomato and white wine broth. Served with crispy garlic toasts, it makes a perfect comforting meal that’s both elegant and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1kg tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 200ml white wine
• 350ml fish stock
• 3 strips orange zest
• 1kg skinless halibut fillets, cut into large chunks
• 500g clams
• 400g large raw prawns
• Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 large ciabatta loaf, cut into 1cm slices
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, halved

Instructions

1. Step 1: To make the garlic toasts, drizzle the ciabatta slices with olive oil, then griddle or grill them until golden on all sides. While the toasts are still hot, rub each slice with halved garlic cloves and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a wide, deep frying pan over a gentle heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in the sliced garlic and chopped red chilli, cooking for another 2 minutes. Add the tomato purée and chopped tomatoes, increase the heat, and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring until the tomatoes become pulpy.
4. Step 4: Pour in the white wine and continue cooking for 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.
5. Step 5: Add the fish stock and orange zest strips, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
6. Step 6: Nestle the halibut chunks into the liquid and cook for 5 minutes. Then add the clams and prawns, cooking for another 5 minutes until the fish is cooked and the clams have opened. Discard any clams that remain closed.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the stew and serve immediately with the garlic toasts on the side.

Tips & Variations

• For extra depth, add a splash of Pernod or another anise-flavored liqueur when adding the wine.
• Swap halibut with cod or sea bass if preferred, or add mussels along with the clams for more variety.
• If you like it spicier, increase the amount of red chilli or add a pinch of smoked paprika.
• Use day-old crusty bread for the garlic toasts to ensure they crisp up nicely.

Storage

Store leftover stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently on the stove to avoid overcooking the seafood. Garlic toasts are best enjoyed fresh but can be kept in an airtight container for up to a day and reheated briefly under the grill.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen seafood for this stew?

Yes, you can use frozen prawns and clams if fresh ones aren’t available. Make sure to thaw them properly before cooking and adjust cooking times slightly to avoid overcooking.

What if I don’t have fish stock?

If you don’t have fish stock, you can substitute with vegetable stock or water combined with a splash of white wine or a small piece of seaweed for extra flavor.

Mediterranean Fish Stew with Garlic Toasters Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 92 reviews

• Author: Ben
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

A vibrant and hearty Mediterranean fish stew brimming with succulent halibut, clams, and prawns in a rich tomato, garlic, and white wine broth, served alongside crispy garlic toasts for the perfect comforting seafood meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Stew Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1kg tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 200ml white wine
• 350ml fish stock
• 3 strips orange zest
• 1kg skinless halibut fillets, cut into large chunks
• 500g clams
• 400g large raw prawns
• Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Garlic Toast Ingredients

• 1 large ciabatta loaf, cut into 1cm slices
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, halved

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Instructions

1. Prepare Garlic Toasts: Drizzle the ciabatta slices with olive oil. Griddle or grill the bread until golden and crisp on all sides. While still warm, rub the toasted bread with the halved garlic cloves to infuse them with garlic flavor. Set aside.
2. Sauté Onion and Aromatics: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a wide, deep frying pan over gentle heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the sliced garlic and finely chopped red chili, cooking for an additional 2 minutes to release their aromas.
3. Cook Tomato Base: Add the tomato purée and chopped tomatoes to the pan. Increase the heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes break down and become pulpy.
4. Add Wine and Reduce: Pour in the white wine and continue cooking for 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated, concentrating the flavors.
5. Simmer with Stock and Orange Zest: Stir in the fish stock and orange zest strips, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
6. Poach Fish: Nestle the halibut chunks into the simmering stew and cook for 5 minutes to start cooking the fish.
7. Add Shellfish and Finish Cooking: Add the clams and prawns to the stew and cook for an additional 5 minutes, until the halibut is cooked through and the clams have opened. Discard any clams that remain closed.
8. Serve: Sprinkle the chopped flat-leaf parsley over the stew for freshness and serve hot with the prepared garlic toasts on the side.

Notes

• Ensure all clams are fresh and discard any that do not open during cooking to avoid food safety issues.
• The white wine should be dry to best complement the stew’s flavors; reserve a glass for drinking if desired.
• Grilling or griddling the bread is essential to achieve crispy garlic toasts, but you can substitute with oven toasting if needed.
• Adjust the amount of chili to control the heat level according to personal preference.
• Use skinless halibut fillets or a similarly firm white fish such as cod or haddock if halibut is unavailable.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Seafood Stew
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: Mediterranean fish stew, halibut stew, seafood stew, garlic toasts, ciabatta garlic bread, white wine seafood, halibut recipes, prawn and clam stew, summer seafood dish