Flavorful Spanish Fish Stew with Potatoes Recipe That Wows

A hearty Spanish fish stew brings warmth and flavor to your dinner table, inviting culinary adventure with its rich maritime traditions.

Mediterranean coastal kitchens have perfected this comforting dish through generations of passionate cooking.

Tender white fish mingles with soft potato chunks, creating a robust meal that speaks of ocean breezes and rustic charm.

Fragrant herbs and smoky spices change simple ingredients into a remarkable ensemble of taste and texture.

Each spoonful carries the essence of coastal villages where seafood reigns supreme.

Cooking this stew connects you with age-old techniques that celebrate fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavors.

Gather your ingredients and prepare to transport your senses to sunny shores.

How to Simmer Spanish Fish Stew Just Right

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Base

Heat olive oil in a large pan with a lid over medium heat

Add chopped onion

Sauté until onions become soft and translucent

Step 2: Create Aromatic Foundation

• Minced garlic
• Chopped fennel

Cook until fragrant and releasing delightful scents

Step 3: Prepare Potato Layer

Add cubed potatoes to the pan

Cover with lid

Let potatoes soften and start cooking

Stir occasionally to prevent sticking

Step 4: Infuse Spicy Flavors

• Smoked paprika
• Sweet paprika
• Chili flakes

Mix thoroughly to coat potatoes evenly

Step 5: Build Liquid Foundation

• Lemon juice
• Chopped tomatoes
• Fish stock

Stir ingredients together

Cover pan

Simmer for 15 minutes until potatoes become tender

Step 6: Add Ocean’s Treasures

Mix in chickpeas

Gently place prawns into stew

Lay white fish fillets on top

Reduce heat to low

Cover pan

Cook for 8-10 minutes until fish turns opaque

Step 7: Final Touch and Serving

Season with salt and pepper

Sprinkle fresh parsley

Serve hot with crusty bread

Optional: Drizzle bread with olive oil

Cooking Wisdom

Use fresh seafood for best flavor

Choose firm white fish like cod or halibut

Adjust spice levels to personal preference

Pair with crisp white wine for perfect meal

Tips for Deep Flavor in Fish Stew with Potatoes

• Select Fresh Seafood: Choose high-quality, fresh white fish and prawns from a trusted fishmonger for the best flavor and texture.
• Layer Spices Carefully: Toast the paprika and chili flakes briefly in oil to release their deep, rich aromatics before adding other ingredients.
• Control Cooking Temperature: Maintain a gentle simmer to prevent overcooking the delicate fish and ensure tender, flaky seafood.
• Use Stock Wisely: Opt for homemade fish stock or a high-quality store-bought version to enhance the stew's overall depth of flavor.
• Adjust Seasoning Progressively: Taste and season gradually throughout cooking, allowing the spices and ingredients to develop a balanced, complex taste profile.

How to Store and Reheat Spanish Fish Stew

• Refrigerate: Store the Spanish fish stew in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• Cool Down: Allow the stew to reach room temperature before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain flavor quality.
• Reheat Gently: Warm the stew in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of fish stock to restore moisture and prevent seafood from becoming tough. Heat until the stew is steaming hot and reaches 165°F internally.

What to Serve with Spanish Fish Stew

• Explore Crisp White Wine Pairing: Complement the delicate seafood and spicy notes with a chilled albariño from Spain's Galicia region, whose citrusy and mineral undertones perfectly balance the stew's rich flavors.
• Serve with Rustic Sourdough: Grab a hearty, tangy sourdough bread to soak up the flavorful broth, its robust texture and slight tanginess enhancing the stew's complex spice profile.
• Match with Zesty Green Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the stew's richness, adding a fresh, peppery element that brightens the entire dish.
• Recommend Spanish Albondigas: Consider adding small Spanish meatballs as a side dish to provide a meaty contrast to the seafood, introducing additional texture and traditional Mediterranean flavors.

Flavorful Variations on Spanish Fish Stew

• Coastal Chorizo Kick: Enhance the stew by adding sliced Spanish chorizo for a smoky, spicy flavor that complements the seafood beautifully.
• Mediterranean Mussels Blend: Swap out prawns and white fish with fresh mussels and chunks of cod for a richer, more complex seafood profile.
• Green Herb Fusion: Incorporate chopped fresh cilantro and mint alongside parsley to create a brighter, more herbaceous dimension to the traditional Spanish stew.
• Roasted Vegetable Upgrade: Grill bell peppers and zucchini before adding them to the stew, introducing a deeper, caramelized taste that elevates the entire dish.

Why Spanish Fish Stew with Potatoes Feels Like Comfort in a Bowl

• Savor Multilayered Mediterranean Flavors: This Spanish fish stew bursts with rich, complex tastes from smoked paprika, fennel, and fresh seafood, creating a vibrant culinary experience that transports you straight to coastal Spain.
• Enjoy Quick and Effortless Cooking: Ready in just 30 minutes, this one-pan recipe requires minimal preparation and cooking skills, making it perfect for busy home cooks seeking a delicious meal without complicated techniques.
• Experience Nutritious Protein-Packed Comfort: Combining white fish, prawns, and chickpeas, this stew delivers a hearty, balanced meal loaded with lean proteins and Mediterranean-style nutrition that satisfies hunger and supports healthy eating.
• Create Versatile Crowd-Pleasing Dinner: Simple enough for weeknight meals yet elegant for dinner parties, this adaptable dish impresses guests while offering a warm, comforting dining experience that brings people together around the table.

Ingredients That Make Spanish Fish Stew So Special

Main Ingredients:

Proteins:- White Fish Fillets: Mild, flaky fish that absorbs the stew’s rich flavors and provides the main protein.- Prawns: Sweet, tender seafood that adds delicate texture and oceanic taste to the stew.

Vegetables:- Potatoes: Hearty root vegetable that provides substance and helps thicken the stew.- Onion: Aromatic base that builds depth of flavor.- Fennel: Subtle licorice-like vegetable that adds complexity and freshness.- Garlic: Pungent ingredient that creates a robust flavor foundation.

Supporting Ingredients:

Pantry Staples:- Chopped Tomatoes: Acidic and rich base that creates the stew’s sauce.- Chickpeas: Protein-packed legume that adds texture and nutty flavor.- Fish Stock: Concentrated liquid that enhances seafood essence.

Seasonings:- Smoked Paprika, Sweet Paprika: Warm, complex spices that provide authentic Spanish flavor profile.- Chili Flakes: Subtle heat element that adds gentle kick.- Salt and Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall taste.

Finishing Touches:- Lemon Juice: Bright, citrusy element that cuts through richness.- Fresh Parsley: Vibrant herb that adds color and fresh note.- Olive Oil: Traditional Mediterranean cooking fat that helps develop flavors.

Spanish Fish Stew with Potatoes Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Hearty Spanish fish stew brings Mediterranean coastal flavors to your kitchen with tender white fish, silky potatoes, and a rich, smoky tomato broth. Simmered with paprika and garlic, this classic dish welcomes you to savor Spain’s maritime culinary tradition.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein Ingredients:

• 400 g (1 lb) white fish fillets, skinless and boneless
• 250 g (9 oz) prawns, fresh or frozen
• 125 g (4.5 oz) chickpeas from a tin, drained and rinsed

Vegetable and Aromatic Ingredients:

• 3 medium potatoes, cut in ½ inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• ½ fennel bulb, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Fresh parsley, to garnish

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 x 400 g (14 oz) tin chopped tomatoes
• 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) fish stock
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Warm olive oil in a capacious skillet over moderate temperature, introducing diced onions and gently transforming them until translucent and softened.
2. Incorporate minced garlic and sliced fennel, allowing aromatics to release their fragrant essence for approximately one minute.
3. Introduce cubed potatoes into the skillet, ensuring complete coverage, and permit them to gradually tenderize while developing subtle caramelization.
4. Dust the potatoes with smoked paprika, sweet paprika, and red chili flakes, meticulously coating each potato piece to distribute spices evenly.
5. Stream lemon juice, crushed tomatoes, and rich fish stock into the mixture, blending ingredients thoroughly and creating a vibrant, aromatic base.
6. Cover the skillet and allow the liquid to simmer, transforming potatoes into fork-tender morsels while developing complex flavor profiles.
7. Gently fold chickpeas into the simmering stew, then delicately nestle white fish fillets atop the bubbling mixture.
8. Reduce heat to minimal setting, covering the pan and allowing seafood to poach until fish transforms into pristine, opaque segments.
9. Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly cracked pepper, ensuring balanced flavor throughout the stew.
10. Scatter freshly chopped parsley across the surface, providing a vibrant finishing touch and serving alongside crusty, olive oil-drizzled bread.

Notes

• Elevate flavor by selecting fresh, seasonal white fish like cod or haddock for authentic Spanish seafood experience.
• Control spice intensity by adjusting chili flakes, ensuring balanced heat that complements delicate fish texture.
• Transform leftovers into quick lunch by storing stew in airtight container, which maintains robust Mediterranean taste for 2-3 days when refrigerated.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Spanish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg