Dad's Favorite Seafood Stew
Author Notes: Our family was in the retail fish and seafood business for almost 80 years and during the course of time hundreds of seafood recipes were collected, tested and developed. Dad came up with this one years ago and it's been a family favorite for those of us who love the fruits of the sea. An impressive, but easy, company dish for four to six....Serve it up with crusty bread ! —inpatskitchen
Food52 Review: WHO: inpatskitchen is an avid FOOD52-er and food blogger -- with fish and seafood retail in her blood.
WHAT: A bright, pure seafood stew that comes together in just 20 minutes.
HOW: Simmer tomatoes, stock, and wine, add seafood, simmer some more, and garnish. (That's it!)
WHY WE LOVE IT: This stew tastes of the sea -- if the sea was delicately perfumed with tomatoes, aromatics, and herbs. Plus, the broth was so good that we drank it on it's own.
—The Editors
Serves: 4 to 6
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 17 min
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1/3
cup extra virgin olive oil
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4
crushed garlic cloves
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6
peeled and seeded roma tomatoes cut into thin strips
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1
cup homemade fish stock, purchased seafood stock or clam juice
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1/2
cup dry white wine
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1
pound skinned saltwater fish filets(snapper, sole, halibut, cod) cut into 2 inch chunks
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16
large peeled and deveined raw shrimp
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16
sea scallops
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1/2
cup finely shredded fresh basil leaves
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1/2
cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- Heat the oil in a 4 to 6 quart dutch oven or sauce pot. Add the crushed garlic and saute on very low heat for about two minutes or until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Add the tomatoes, stock and wine and simmer for about 10 minutes. (At this point you can cool and refrigerate this if you want to prep a day ahead - just reheat before adding the seafood)
- Add the fish and seafood and simmer for about 5 minutes until just done (Don't over cook!). Stir in the parsley and basil and serve immediately ( with that crusty bread!!)
- This recipe is a Wildcard Contest Winner!
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Simple, quick, and absolutely delicious! Already make this dish often in my house.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks so much Amelia!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe, Pat! I made it a couple of nights ago using 6 oz. of my own slow-roasted tomatoes. My husband and I just loved it! The broth was rich and flavorful enough (after the addition of some salt and pepper), but the cod and scallops remained decidedly bland. They were better the next day, as often happens with a good soup or stew!
It was such an easy dish that I'd love to make it again. Any suggestions for upping the flavor factor when serving right away?
Pat is a trusted home cook.
So happy you enjoyed this Kim..thanks! I don't have a sub for the scallops but maybe a more assertive fish like snapper or grouper would help. Also I've been known to add a pinch of saffron to the broth now and then.
Thank you, Pat! I adore scallops, so I wouldn't want to replace those. Great idea, though, to use snapper. And I'll try saffron too. Really, it was so yummy. Looking forward to a "next time."
Made this last weekend, according to recipe, with one addition. Added a can of fire roasted dice tomatoes along with the Plum tomatoes. Figured the Jersey tomatoes are a long way from being in season. So delicious, easy peezey to make and such pure flavor. So good, wife asked for another round for Mother’s Day
Pat is a trusted home cook.
So glad you enjoyed and yes I substitute canned Marzano tomatoes in the off season also. My dad would have loved that you are making it for Mother's Day!
I made this for New Year's Eve. It really is surprisingly delicious! The best part is that is so easy to make! I made it as written, not wanting to play around with it the first time, but it seems easily adaptable to anything. I would serve it with pasta the next time because it really does make a lot of liquid for not being a soup. Perfect for company and easily doubles. It's a keeper!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
I'm so happy you enjoyed this! And yes, we've served it over pasta also. Feel free to use good canned San Marzano tomatoes when fresh aren't at their best.
when you add noodle does is become like a soupy pasta (like chicken noodle). I was thinking of adding cream and some noodles to this recipe... cant wait to try!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Hi ziba! Yes ..adding noodles is a great idea! Not sure about the cream but it sure can't hurt to try! I hope you enjoy..
Excellent. Simple, flavorful. Will add some pasta when I serve the left overs. Easy meal to serve for company.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks so much Tigi!!
Tried this last night and I can see why its "Dad's favorite". As the person doing the cooking its moved to my Top Recipes. Elegant, versatile and full of flavour but easy and quick to prepare, what's not to like!?
Thank you for sharing!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed Eva. Thank you!!!
This was fantastic! I added a dry red wine and used cilantro instead of parsley. So simple and delicious!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks Charlotte! So happy you enjoyed!
I'm a bit confused on the low liquid amount (1 1/2 cups in all, not counting oil); this doesn't seem like much when divided 4, or even 6, ways. Has anyone added more stock? Thank you.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Hi Lisa! The seafood will give off much more liquid when cooked, however I have often added more tomatoes and/or stock in the past. Remember, it's a stew, not a soup....
What a fabulous recipe and a great springboard from which to start! The modifications made were minimal and mostly just because of the flavor profile I like with seafood. I used much less oil (about 3 Tbs) and sweated minced garlic with a few finely diced, leafy stalks of celery & half an onion; next time I'll add a bit of leek, too. Added some mussels & saffron as well. I used New Zealand Ling, a sustainable, firm-fleshed white fish, with tasty results. Can't stop talking about how terrific it was w/ crusty bread & big salad. And so pretty, too!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks so much Manhattan Tart! Love your modifications..
We stay in on New Year's Eve so I try to fix something special for dinner. This was wonderful. So quick and easy and so delicious. I subbed the fresh tomato with a can of fire roasted tomatoes which made perfect sauce. Thanks Pat for another great recipe!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thank YOU Juliebell! I think canned tomatoes are a must during the winter months (I usually use San Marzano). I'm so happy you celebrated the New Year with my dad's stew.. he would have been pleased as punch!
Not only dad's favorite seafood stew. It is mine as well. And it also looks great.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thank you Bob! We just love it! My Dad would have been tickled pink to hear this. Happy Thanksgiving!
You made beautiful recipes. And most of all easy to make.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks so much John!
Hi! We love your recipes. If I need a substitute for the wine, what do you recommend? I saw one comment on veg broth? More clam juice? Something else? Thanks so much - hoping to stay true as possible to your recipe.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks so much mcdenver! I'd sub clam juice or chicken broth if you can't use the wine.
Nice and simple! I only added some salt and extra garlic to taste. I will definitely make this again, and plan to try this broth with mussels and some squid ink pasta next week.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Oh yes! Extra Garlic!!! Thanks so much!
Absolute hit in our household...lovely, and simple!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thanks Kate! It's a hit here also!
I like hot and spicy. So I added a handful of crushed red pepper flakes and three shots of Tabasco and this recipe was to die for. I usually wind up throwing away uneaten food. I barely had to wash the bowl from this stew, it was bowl licking great.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
So happy you enjoyed and "spicing" it up sounds great! Thanks!
Made this for dinner this evening and (oh my gosh) it was delicious. I didn't have any wine so I substituted it with vegetable stock (I know they're not close in flavour but it was the best I could do), and I'm think it's now my Dad's favourite fish stew now as well.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks so much!!
Made this last night it was delisioso !! I added fresh mushrooms after sauting the garlic!!
Pat is a trusted home cook.
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks!
Can you recommend a good clam juice or are they all pretty good from the store?
Pat is a trusted home cook.
I've heard that Bar Harbor is a good brand but it's not always available in the Detroit area. I keep clam base in my fridge so I can control the salt in my broth. Hope you give this a try!
Also decided it would be astounding over orzo or another preferred pasta. Naturally you would have to increase the broth content. Also decided to integrate lobster into the ingredients as it is readily in our area. Mussels, clams and oysters an option as well. So much to cook and so little time. This was a memorable dish, AS IS ! On to the next level. I see many viable options ..... All good. Thank you for the inspiration.
Pat is a trusted home cook.
Thank YOU Burger!
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