This Smoky Tomato Fish Stew Recipe is such a delicious comfort food meal, and it’s light and healthy, too! Full of hearty ingredients and fresh flavors, this thirty minute dinner is perfect for a busy weeknight or a casual dinner party!

I want to clarify something . . .  comfort foods do not have to be rich and heavy.

My comfort food of choice varies from day to day really. One day, my comfort food could be a super tasty salad, the next it could be a spicy noodle soup.

And today, comfort food is this Smoky Tomato Fish Stew — and guess what?

It’s rich, hearty, light, and healthy — all at once.

What’s in this recipe?

• Cod
• olive oil
• onion
• garlic
• rosemary
• dried thyme
• smoked paprika
• cayenne pepper
• roasted red pepper
• lemon juice
• tomatoes
• corn
• vegetable stock
• white wine

What makes it delicious?

• It’s the way in which the ingredients are layered into the pan, and cooked.
• Each ingredient is cooked on its own a bit before the next one is added, allowing each flavor to fully develop. When everything comes together, you can still discern the individual flavors.

Just look into the pan below. And that’s only the first three ingredients — olive oil, smoked paprika and onions.

What to serve with it:

• It would be fantastic after an appetizer of Ahi Tuna Tartare.
• How about served on top of Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes?
• And I love a refreshing dessert after a stew like this. I’m thinking my Lemon-Lavender Frozen Custard.

Can you make it ahead?

Yes, partially. 

• Up to one day (and at least an hour) ahead, you can make the recipe up to the point of adding the fish. (Let it cool, and store it in the refrigerator in the pot — when you’re ready to continue the following day, slowly bring it to a strong simmer before adding the fish.)
• Then, about 10 minutes ahead, add the fish and remaining ingredients, and season to taste.

I hope you love this Smoky Tomato Fish Stew as much as my family and I do.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

• I used Black Cod in this recipe — however, almost any cod will work well. (You want a flaky white fish.)
• Fish stock can be used instead of vegetable.
• Feel free to experiment with different herbs — oregano would also be lovely.
• I would not skip the roasted red pepper as it adds to the delicious smoky flavor. To save time you can buy them already roasted.

Smoky Tomato Fish Stew

Valentina K. Wein

A delicious comfort food meal that's light and healthy. Full of hearty ingredients and fresh flavors, this thirty minute dinner is perfect for a busy weeknight or a casual dinner party!

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 to 6

Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• olive oil for the pan
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 4 whole garlic gloves, stems removed, thinly sliced
• 1½ teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1 cup corn kernels (see notes)
• 1 cup roasted red pepper (click here for how to roast a pepper), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• 1 cup dry white wine
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup packed spinach leaves
• 1 pound Black Cod fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• smoked sea salt, sugar and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Coat the bottom of a medium-large soup pot with olive oil, and place it over low-medium heat. Add the paprika and let it cook until it begins to sizzle, about 4 minutes.
• Add the onion and turn the heat up to medium. Let the onion cook for about 5 minutes and then add the garlic. Continue to cook until the onions are very soft, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the rosemary and thyme and let it cook until it's very aromatic, about 30 seconds.
• Add the corn and roasted peppers and combine. Cook until the bottom of the pan is very brown, about 5 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with the tomatoes, stock and wine. Add the cayenne, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add the spinach, fish and lemon juice, and cook just until the fish is cooked, about 5 minutes.
• Season generously to taste with smoked sea salt, sugar and freshly ground black pepper.

Notes

When corn isn't in season, use frozen, thawed corn. If you make this in the summer, definitely use fresh!
You can use regular sea salt -- however, I love the added smokiness from the smoked sea salt!

Keywords comfort foods with fish, best fish stew recipes

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