Description
A hearty Mediterranean fish stew featuring tender chunks of halibut, clams, and prawns simmered in a rich tomato and white wine broth, served with flavorful garlic-grilled ciabatta toasts.
Ingredients
Scale
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 Toasts
- 1 large ciabatta loaf, cut into 1cm slices
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, halved
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic toasts: Drizzle the ciabatta slices with 5 tablespoons of olive oil. Grill or griddle them until golden and crisp all over. While still hot, rub the toasted bread with the cut sides of the halved garlic cloves to infuse them with flavor. Set aside.
- Sauté the base flavors: 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 chopped red chilli and cook for an additional couple of minutes to release their aromas.
- Cook the tomatoes and wine: Add 2 tablespoons of tomato purée and the roughly chopped tomatoes to the pan. Increase the heat and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically, until the tomatoes break down and become pulpy. Pour in 200ml of white wine and continue cooking for another 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Simmer the stew: Pour in 350ml of fish stock and add the 3 strips of orange zest. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Nestle the halibut chunks into the simmering liquid and cook for 5 minutes to allow the fish to start cooking through.
- Add shellfish and finish cooking: Add the clams and raw prawns to the pan. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until the fish is fully cooked, the prawns turn pink, and the clams have all opened – discard any clams that remain closed.
- Serve: Sprinkle chopped flat-leaf parsley over the stew for freshness. Serve the rich Mediterranean fish stew hot, accompanied by the flavorful garlic toasts for dipping and savoring the broth.
Notes
- Discard any clams that do not open after cooking to ensure safety.
- Use fresh seafood for best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the heat of the stew by varying the amount of red chilli according to preference.
- The garlic toasts add a delicious crunchy element and perfect for soaking up the stew broth.
- Substitute halibut with any firm white fish like cod if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean fish stew, halibut stew, seafood stew, garlic toast, prawns, clams, tomato stew
