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Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

Spanish Seafood Stew Recipe

Published: Dec 15, 2020 · Modified: Feb 21, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

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Having traveled to Spain one of the things I remember most was the amazing seafood that was served. And Spanish Seafood Stew was one of the dishes that I enjoyed the most and ordered more frequently.

bowl of seafood stew next to garlic toast


 

Lisa and I love to travel and one of our dream locations had always been Spain. A few years ago we made that dream come true.

The culture, the food and the beauty of Spain is simply amazing and the people are some of the friendliest we’ve ever encountered during our travels.

flamenco dancer and guitarist on stage

I love traveling because not only do I get to sample delicious dishes, I get to attend events like the Flamenco show we enjoyed in Madrid.

If you love seafood stews, you have to try my delicious cioppino recipe, it is soooo good!

Table of Contents:
  • What do I need to make a Spanish Seafood Stew?
  • How do I make Spanish Seafood Stew?
  • Recipe FAQ’s:
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Spanish Seafood Stew

What do I need to make a Spanish Seafood Stew?

ingredients to make recipe

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Spicy Spanish Seafood Stew. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place”, which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

shrimp and cod seasoned with salt and pepper on a white platter
  • Start the process by thoroughly rinsing the clams and mussels.
  • Peel and devein the shrimp and pat the cod and shrimp with paper towels.
  • Season the cod and shrimp with sea salt and black pepper.

How do I make Spanish Seafood Stew?

collage of images showing how to make recipe
  • Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan and when it heats up add the diced onion, garlic, and sliced fennel. Sauté for about 3 minutes.
  • Add smoked paprika, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Add white wine to deglaze the pan.
  • Add tomatoes, chicken broth, saffron and season with sea salt and black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.
  • Add the cod, shrimp, clams and mussels to the pan.
fully cooked seafood stew in large pot

Cover the pan and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes or until the clams and mussels have opened.

seafood stew in white bowl

Serve up the seafood with all the delicious juices and garnish with parsley. Serve with your favorite crusty bread and you’ve got a hearty meal that can be prepared in about a half-hour.

It’s perfect for your next date night or small dinner gathering, it’s really that easy to make.

Recipe FAQ’s:

What is Spanish Seafood Stew?

Classic Spanish Seafood Stew, known in Spain as Zarzuela de Pescado y Mariscos, is easily one of Spain´s most iconic dishes. This seafood stew comes from Barcelona in the Catalonia region of Spain. It can be made with a variety of fresh seafood and is generally made with a tomato-based broth.

What type of seafood can I use to make Spanish Seafood Stew?

When it comes to Spanish seafood stew, any type of seafood can be used to make this classic fisherman dish. Calamari, shellfish, and your favorite pieces of fish can find their way into this timeless classic.

Is Spanish Seafood Stew Spicy?

Spanish seafood stew can be as spicy as you like or not at all. It’s a personal preference. It’s a misconception that Spanish food is hot, spicy can mean spices that tantalize the tastebuds without excessive heat.

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seafood stew in a white bowl

Spanish Seafood Stew

Chef Dennis Littley
When you're looking for a seafood dish that's full of flavor and easy to make my version of a Spanish Seafood Stew is just what you're looking for. And it's easy to customize, by using the seafood that you like to eat or that you have on hand.
5 from 55 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine Spanish
Servings 2
Calories 413 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 12 raw fresh mussels
  • 12 raw fresh clams
  • 8 (raw) jumbo shrimp peeled & deveined
  • 8 ounces cod fillet
  • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small bulb fennel thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ⅓ teaspoon thyme fresh or dry
  • ¼ cup white wine
  • 15 ounce diced tomatoes canned
  • 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional) more if you like it extra spicy
  • ½ teaspoon saffron threads
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅙ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Thoroughly rinse the clams and mussels in cold running water to remove all the grit and sand from the shellfish.
  • Peel and devein the shrimp. Pat them dry with paper towels.
  • Pat dry the cod fillets with paper towels. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
  • Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan and when it heats up add the diced onion, garlic, and sliced fennel. Sauté for about 3 minutes.
  • Add smoked paprika, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Add white wine to deglaze the pan.
  • Add tomatoes, chicken broth, saffron and season with sea salt and black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.
  • Add the cod, shrimp, clams and mussels to the pan. Cover the pan and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes or until the clams and mussels have opened.
  • Garnish the seafood stew with chopped parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 413kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 37gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 1273mgPotassium: 1692mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1265IUVitamin C: 53mgCalcium: 201mgIron: 7mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 55 votes (47 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Pauline says

    January 18, 2024 at 11:23 pm

    5 stars
    I made this a few weeks ago – everyone loved it and some had a second bowl.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      January 19, 2024 at 7:20 am

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my seafood stew!

      Reply
  2. Gerrie says

    December 04, 2023 at 7:54 pm

    I love making white chippino

    Reply
  3. Mary B says

    May 15, 2023 at 4:35 pm

    Can previously frozen seafood be used?

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 15, 2023 at 8:56 pm

      you can use previously cooked seafood. You won’t get the same flavor but it can be used.

      Reply
  4. Christie B says

    December 26, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    I made this for our Christmas Eve dinner. Wow is it good! So glad I found your website. We made your Coq au Vin on Christmas Day. Thanks Chef for the great recipes!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      December 26, 2020 at 1:32 pm

      I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed my recipes, Christie I hope you find many more to enjoy!

      Reply
      • Wendy says

        April 07, 2022 at 9:12 pm

        5 stars
        I made this one okay and it is amazing. Thank you so much for the Recipe! Made our evening special.

  5. rika says

    December 20, 2020 at 1:01 am

    5 stars
    This stew looks so good! I love seafood soup and I do get heartburn after eating tomato-based soup!

    Reply
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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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