This Caribbean Seafood Stew recipe is a one-pot dish that is loaded with shrimp, tomatoes, fish filet, bell pepper and fresh herbs.
It is rich with a flavorful taste and mouth-watering aroma, and it has just enough kick of spice to add something unique to its flavors!
Check also Gypsy Soup and Spicy Korean-Chinese Seafood Soup (Jjampong).
This Caribbean stew recipe is packed with your favorite combination of fish and shrimp seasoned with garlic, fresh thyme, and black pepper, to name a few. You can only imagine how perfectly balanced the taste of all flavors in this recipe is.
A hearty bowl of this stew is savory with a touch of obvious warmth and spice that is not too much but only enough to add depth to the taste!
You will also get to enjoy slurping down a thick and flavorful broth rich with the tender flesh of the seafood. Oh, you can only imagine how satisfying this dish is.
You may serve this stew for lunch or dinner, especially on rainy days. You'll never go wrong with a warm bowl of stew on a rainy and cold day. But don't worry! You can also enjoy a bowl of this dish even if the sun is shining brightly outside.
This is an easy meal to prepare, so you can definitely have a go at this recipe when you are craving a healthy and flavorful seafood dish!
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Why Does This Recipe Work?
You might be wondering why you can't just order this dish at a seafood restaurant. Well, there are so many reasons why you've got to try making your very own Caribbean Seafood Stew at home, and here are some of those:
- Cooking this dish at home allows you to control the ingredients to match your preference! You can add more spices if you love your stew spicy and tone it down a bit if you want it to taste mild. It's so quick and easy to make that the step-by-step process will surely not be a hassle for you!
- The best thing about a homemade seafood stew is that you can make sure that everything in the warm bowl is fresh. You can choose the freshest fish and shrimp to avoid off-taste!
- Giving this recipe a try at home is so convenient since you can cook big batches that you can store in the freezer since this is a freezer-friendly recipe.
- This recipe is budget-friendly. You'll save more if you make this recipe at home instead of buying from the restaurant, especially if you plan on making big batches since you can buy ingredients in bulk!
Related: Egyptian Molokhia Soup and Beef Stew with Tomato Sauce.
Ingredients
Avocado Oil. Avocado Oil has a high smoke point which is ideal for letting the broth simmer for a while without adding an unappealing taste. Plus, avocado oil has a rich, nutty flavor that compliments the spices and seafood in this stew.
Onion. Onion adds a sweet and savory flavor to your homemade stew, and it also balances out the heat from the spices. It improves the natural flavors of seafood and vegetables too.
Red Bell Pepper. You can use red bell peppers since they are sweeter than green bell peppers and will offer a natural sweetness that blends with the other flavors in the stew.
Celery Stalk. Celery has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that adds a subtle aroma to the stew. It also helps to balance the spices and seasonings used in the dish.
Garlic. Garlic puts a rich and savory flavor to your stew, completing the natural sweetness of the fish and shrimp along with the spicy heat of the seasonings.
Salt & Ground Black Pepper. Salt and pepper help to balance the flavors in the stew, making it more savory and satisfying.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes help to make a thicker and more savory broth for the stew, which makes it a heartier and more satiating dish.
Fresh Thyme. Caribbean dishes usually call for fresh thyme as a herb and aromatics. To give this recipe its genuine Caribbean touch, then add some fresh thyme!
Seafood Stock. Seafood stock can give the stew a rich and savory flavor that combines well with the fish and shrimp in the stew. You can use fish broth instead if you like.
Fresh Lime Juice. Lime juice adds a bright, tangy flavor that balances out the richness of the seafood and the spices. It also enhances the flavors of the other ingredients in the stew.
Fresh Cilantro Leaves. Cilantro leaves are the best aromatics for seafood stews!
Seafood!
White Fish Fillet. White fish filet is filled with mild and delicate flavor so it allows absorbing the flavors of the spices and seasonings in the stew.
Shrimps. Shrimp are a staple in Caribbean cuisine and are known for their sweet and slightly briny flavor, which is a perfect complement to the white fish filet.
“See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.”
How to Make Caribbean Seafood Stew?
One: In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion, bell pepper and celery, and cook (stirring occasionally) for 4 to 5 minutes or until softened.
Two: Stir in the garlic, fresh thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 30 seconds more.
Three: Add the lime juice, tomatoes and seafood stock, and bring to a boil.
Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens a bit.
Four: Now, stir in the shrimp and fish, and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the seafood is cooked through.
Five: Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with white rice.
Top Tips!
- Let the flavors settle in. To do this, you should let the stew sit for a few minutes after cooking, so the flavors become more evident.
- Use the freshest seafood you can ever find! This is to make sure your stew is in the best taste possible.
- To get the best flavor out of the seafood, it is important to cook the stew low and slow.
Recipe Variations
- Add more seafood like crab meat and lobster for more meat and flavors!
- If you love a more herbaceous taste in your broth, you should use rosemary instead of thyme.
- Add more vegetables! Consider green beans and eggplants!
- Use olive oil or coconut oil instead of avocado oil.
- To give your stew some heat, add chopped habanero pepper, jalapeno pepper or some red pepper flakes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Caribbean Seafood Stew with a bowl of white rice, or let the simmering broth of this stew soak up fresh and crusty bread for your meal!
You can also have a refreshing side dish for this stew with a citrusy green salad!
Storage
To Store: Caribbean Seafood stews can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Allow it to cool completely and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and crab are just some of the best seafood to add to your stew.
Yes, of course. Make this a day before you intend to serve it. Just reheat it in medium-low heat before serving.
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Recipe
Caribbean Seafood Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 stalk celery , sliced
- 1 red bell pepper , chopped
- 1 onion , chopped
- 2 sprig fresh thyme , chopped
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup seafood stock
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 400 g white fish fillet , cut into small pieces
- 300 g shrimp
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves , chopped
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion, bell pepper and celery, and cook (stirring occasionally) for 4 to 5 minutes or until softened.2 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 stalk celery, 1 red bell pepper, 1 onion
- Stir in the garlic, fresh thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 30 seconds more.2 sprig fresh thyme, 3 cloves garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the lime juice, tomatoes and seafood stock, and bring to a boil.1 cup diced tomatoes with juices, 1 cup seafood stock, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens a bit.
- Now, stir in the shrimp and fish, and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the seafood is cooked through.300 g shrimp, 400 g white fish fillet
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with white rice.2 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves
Notes
- Let the flavors settle in. To do this, you should let the stew sit for a few minutes after cooking, so the flavors become more evident.
- Use the freshest seafood you can ever find! This is to make sure your stew is in the best taste possible.
- To get the best flavor out of the seafood, it is important to cook the stew low and slow.
Izabella
I tried this stew with tomatoes and it was so good!
Lora
I love this recipe and have been making it for a long time. I usually use fresh tomatoes and also add more fresh herbs.
Marlene
Amazing recipe, I also added some cooked mussels. It was fantastic!