Rich and Hearty Italian Seafood Stew

Introduction

Few dishes evoke the vibrant spirit of coastal Italy like a Rich and Hearty Italian Seafood Stew. Brimming with a medley of tender seafood, aromatic vegetables, and a deeply flavored tomato broth, this stew packs bold flavors and satisfying comfort into every spoonful. It’s the perfect centerpiece for a casual gathering, a cozy family meal, or anytime you want to bring authentic Mediterranean warmth to your table—without complicated steps or hard-to-find ingredients.

Why This Italian Seafood Stew Delivers Huge Flavor

This recipe marries the freshness of the sea with the richness of classic Italian ingredients—think luscious tomatoes, white wine, garlic, and fresh herbs. Mussels, clams, shrimp, and firm white fish soak up an aromatic broth that’s layered with flavor from a soffritto base, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The secret? The harmonious mingling of each seafood’s essence in the tangy, herb-infused broth transforms humble ingredients into something utterly special.

Building Deep Flavor for Your Stew

Start by sautéing onions, garlic, and celery until caramel-sweet and fragrant. Add fennel for authentic Italian flair and a slight anise note, then deglaze with white wine—this forms the stew’s layered foundation. Slowly simmerring tomatoes, stock, and plenty of fresh herbs brings the broth to life. Adding seafood in stages ensures every bite is perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful—not rubbery.

Tips for Assembling the Perfect Seafood Stew

Use the freshest seafood you can find for best results. Begin with shellfish like mussels and clams, adding shrimp and fish just before serving. Don’t skip the crusty bread—its role in soaking up the fragrant broth is as vital as anything. For a final flourish, a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon wakes up the flavors for a truly restaurant-quality meal.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Stew

Serve your stew steaming hot in deep bowls, topped with fresh parsley, lemon wedges, and a drizzle of good olive oil. Pair with rustic grilled bread, or go all out with homemade garlic crostini for dunking. Complement it all with a chilled glass of crisp Italian white wine—this meal turns any night into a celebration.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 6 hearty servings. Each bowl (without bread) contains about 350–400 calories, is rich in lean protein, vitamins, and minerals, and fits beautifully into a heart-healthy meal plan.

Rich and Hearty Italian Seafood Stew (Recap)

A symphony of shellfish, tomatoes, herbs, and aromatic broth, this Italian Seafood Stew is an effortlessly impressive way to capture Mediterranean flavors. Its dazzling blend of taste, color, and aroma makes it a standout for gatherings and family dinners alike.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and fennel. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 6 minutes.
2. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
3. Pour in the white wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, stock, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes, letting the flavors meld.
5. Add mussels and clams. Cover and cook for 4–5 minutes until the shells just open.
6. Stir in shrimp and fish. Simmer, uncovered, for 3–4 minutes until shrimp turn pink and fish is opaque. Discard any shellfish that do not open.
7. Taste the broth and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf.
8. Ladle stew into bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Italian Seafood Stew isn’t just for special occasions—it’s a brilliant addition to your weekly meal plan! Save and schedule this recipe in your meal planner to automatically create a smart shopping list that consolidates ingredients from all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically totals ingredient quantities across all planned recipes
• Organizes your shopping list by grocery store section for ultimate efficiency
• Reduces extra purchases and missing ingredients
• Makes meal prep and planning for the week effortless

Pro tip: When you schedule recipes together, CookifyAI’s planner helps you spot overlapping ingredients (like onions or herbs), so you buy just what you need and save time at the store.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Enjoy the flavors of the Italian coast—no plane ticket required!