Sicilian Halibut Fish Stew: Tasty Meal in a Soup Pot
Whether you are looking to eat more fish or need another dish for Christmas Eve, this Sicilian Halibut Fish Stew could be just what you are looking to enjoy.
Now, if you wonder why fish on Christmas Eve, then you must not have heard about the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
Even though I am half-Italian, I was not introduced to this Italian-American tradition until we spent Christmas in Rhode Island when I was a teen.
Basically, family gathers together for a LARGE Christmas Eve meal.
Can you guess what it features?
If you guessed fish, you’d be correct!
7 different dishes to be specific. Or more if you’d like.
Fish or seafood are eligible.
They can be appetizers (e.g. salmon dip on crackers) or the main course (hello Baked Salmon and Shrimp Etouffee!)
I have very fond memories of that Christmas Eve spent at my godparent’s house.
Not just the food, but things like my Polish aunt’s brother trying to sing carols in an Elvis-like voice. And my aunt switching to Polish to give him a piece of her mind.
But, more importantly, it was time spent with family members we usually saw in the summer.
After my Nana and a different aunt moved down south near my parents, we did a smaller scale Christmas Eve. Here we were introduced to fried calamari.
Since then, I’ve always done a scaled-back celebration with the boys. Some years it is a single fish entree. Other years have a few different dishes.
TAKE CHARGE OF MEALTIME
Weekly Meal Planner
Meal planning can be a daunting task, but with the Weekly Meal Planner in spreadsheet format, it’s a breeze!
It comes with a list of meal ideas to help you plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week ahead. Plus, you can put together your shopping list, so you can make sure you have everything you need.
The planner is the perfect way to make meal planning easy and fun!
Making Sicilian Halibut Fish Stew
Halibut is one of the choices that often makes an appearance.
This fish has a mild flavor and a firm flesh.
So, it is great for a variety of applications.
Fried is something many people visiting Alaska favor.
For me, I prefer more flavor to my halibut dishes (e.g. this recipe for Halibut Creole I shared a while back.)
This recipe gives a nod to Sicilian cooking.
Considering it was immigrants from southern Italy and Sicily who brought the tradition with them, it is a fitting choice.
If you don’t have any available, find another mild white fish, such as cod, to make this fish stew. For a lighter, weeknight-friendly version, try our Steamed Cod and Vegetables.
Sicilian Halibut Fish Stew
Ingredients
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 2 large celery stalks, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ c. dry white wine
- 1 28-oz. can chopped tomatoes, with liquid
- 2 c. fish stock
- 1 lb. halibut filets, skin removed and roughly chopped
- 1 c. fresh green beans, trimmed and quartered
- 1 large organic lemon, juice and zest
- ¾ c. fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ c. pine nuts
Instructions
1. In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, zucchini, and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stirring occasionally, cook until the veggies become soft and fragrant, approximately 4-5 minutes.
2. Add the wine and gently scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Stir to combine and simmer for approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and fish stock and bring to a rapid boil, then reduce heat to medium low. Cover pot and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes.
4. Uncover and add the chopped halibut and fresh green beans. Cover and continue cooking until the fish is flakey and the green beans are slightly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes.
5. Add lemon zest and juice and stir in fresh parsley. Remove from heat and season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
6. To serve, top each serving with a tablespoon of pine nuts. Enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 425Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 422mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 6gSugar: 10gProtein: 39g
Have you ever attended a Feast of the Seven Fishes?