Recipes

French Bouillabaisse Recipe | Perfect Mediterranean Seafood Stew

Cook Time

30 min

Total Time

90 min

Servings

6-8

French Bouillabaisse Recipe | Perfect Mediterranean Seafood Stew

Bring a taste of France to your kitchen with this authentic Bouillabaisse, a traditional French seafood stew infused with saffron, fennel, and fresh fish. Follow Chef Healthy Henry for step-by-step guidance on creating this classic dish, complete with garlic sourdough bread and a homemade rouille. Perfect for a special occasion or anyone who loves Mediterranean flavors!

Pair it with a nice rosé . A great dish for guests (serves about 6). The stock and rouille can be made ahead.

French Bouillabaisse Recipe | Perfect Mediterranean Seafood Stew

French Bouillabaisse Recipe | Perfect Mediterranean Seafood Stew

Bring a taste of France to your kitchen with this authentic Bouillabaisse, a traditional French seafood stew infused with saffron, fennel, and fresh fish. Follow Chef Healthy Henry for step-by-step guidance on creating this classic dish, complete with garlic sourdough bread and a homemade rouille. Perfect for a special occasion or anyone who loves Mediterranean flavors!

Pair it with a nice rosé . A great dish for guests (serves about 6). The stock and rouille can be made ahead.

A black and white drawing of a plate and fork on a white background.
Servings

6-8

A black and white icon of a bell on a white background.
Total Time

90 min

Ingredients:

3lb. Fish (sea bass, or cod, etc.)

Salt

1/2 c olive oil separated

2 large leeks, chopped

1 large bulb fennel, chopped

1 large potato, peeled and chopped

About 20 threads of saffron

3 bay leaves

1 tbl salt

1 tsp dried thyme

Fresh black pepper

4 large ripe tomatoes peeled, seeded, and chopped; juice reserved

8 cups fish stock (see previous recipe)

1 1/2 lb clams, rinsed

1 1/2 lb mussels, scrubbed and rinsed

3/4 Ib thin-fleshed squid cut into ringlets (optional)

2 Tbl chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

10 slices garlic sourdough bread (see bonus video)

1 recipe rouille (see previous recipe)


Directions:

Cut all the fish fillets into 2-in. pieces, keeping the fish separated. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently to distribute the salt.

In a large pot add 1/4 cup of the olive oil, leeks, fennel, potatoes, saffron, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook slowly over medium-low heat until the leeks are soft but not browned and the potatoes are tender, about 30 min.

Add tomatoes, strained tomato juice, fish stock and a pinch of salt. Bring to a rapid simmer.

Add fish and remaining 1/4 cup olive oil to the simmering broth, raise the heat to high, and boil for about 10 min. 

Add clams and mussels. Cook for another 5 min. In the last minute, add squid and parsley.  Add salt to taste. 

Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 15 min.

To serve

Add 2 slices of the garlic bread in the bottom of a wide-rimmed serving bowl. Arrange the clams and mussels around the bowl then ladle the soup on top. Serve with a spoonful of the rouille and a sprinkle of parsley.

This dish goes ideally with a nice rosé from the Côtes de Provence.

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