Here’s a bold and flavorful recipe for Spicy Seafood Stew, a comforting dish with deep heat, coastal aroma, and rich broth — perfect for seafood lovers.
🌶️ Spicy Seafood Stew (Coastal Style)
📝 Ingredients
Seafood (mix as preferred):
- 200g shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 200g firm fish (like cod, snapper, or tilapia), cut into chunks
- 200g squid or calamari (optional), sliced into rings
- 6–8 mussels or clams (optional, cleaned)
For the base:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
- 2–3 fresh red chilies or 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne (optional, for more heat)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquids:
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup crushed tomatoes)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups seafood or vegetable stock
- ½ cup coconut milk or heavy cream (optional, for creamier broth)
- Juice of ½ lemon or lime
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley or coriander
- Lemon wedges
- Crusty bread (for serving)
🍲 Instructions
1. Sauté aromatics:
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until soft and golden. Add garlic, ginger, and chilies. Cook until fragrant (about 1–2 minutes).
2. Build the flavor:
Stir in paprika, cumin, cayenne, turmeric (if using), and tomato paste. Cook for a minute.
Add chopped tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tomatoes break down and form a thick base (5–7 minutes).
3. Add liquids:
Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer. Add coconut milk if using. Let it bubble gently for 5 minutes.
4. Add seafood:
Add fish chunks first (they take longer), then shrimp and squid after 2–3 minutes. Add mussels/clams last. Cover and simmer until mussels open and shrimp are pink (around 5–7 minutes total cooking time). Discard any unopened mussels.
5. Finish and serve:
Squeeze in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with chopped herbs.
Serve hot with crusty bread or over rice.
🔥 Tips
- Use fresh or frozen seafood — just thaw before cooking.
- For extra heat, add a splash of hot sauce or harissa.
- You can add veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or baby spinach for more depth.
Would you like a version adapted for a specific cuisine (e.g., Korean, Mediterranean, Thai)?