Red Bream Stew Recipe

You’ll surely be beaming with pride, joy, and satisfaction with the Red Bream Stew!

In the Mediterranean, the Red Bream Stew is a popular dish because the red bream fish is cooked with vegetables in an indulgent broth, It’s a hearty and comforting dish that you can share with your loved ones anytime.

One spoonful can make you realize why it’s one of the best soups and stews for everyone. It will truly bring out the best in red bream that will convince you to add more fish recipes to your diet.

A one-pot recipe, like the Red Bream Stew, can make all of your guests feel at home. It’s the perfect dish to serve on a cozy night of dining in your house with your favorite people!

How to Make Red Bream Stew

If you’re not used to cooking fish recipes, then this beginner-friendly dish is the perfect way to start. All it takes is a bit of marinating and stewing to make a fantastic Red Bream Stew.

Before anything else, let’s take a look at the ingredients you will need.

Ingredients

Remember these ingredients when you want to try Red Bream Stew:

Red bream fish

What makes red bream fish special? It’s a mildly sweet, firm, and flaky fish with an appetizing color! You can also grill, roast, steam, poach, or stew this fish to bring out its amazing flavor and texture.

According to Fresh Fish Daily, red bream fish is healthy because it’s low in calories yet high in vitamins. It is also known to boost immunity and prevent heart problems and cancer. 

You can serve it with flavorful dishes from Caribbean, Mediterranean, African, or Asian cuisines. Cook red bream fish with vegetables and creamy sauces for a truly filling meal!

Pepper sauce 

Did you know that pepper sauce is one of the secrets to a good stew? In this recipe, the sauce is made of red bell peppers, scotch bonnets, tomatoes, and onions. The sweet, spicy, and pungent flavors will also coat the fish perfectly well.

Making the pepper sauce from scratch will also give you lots of health benefits for your brain, heart, immunity, and gut health. You can also upgrade the sauce with herbs and spices that you like.

This is also my go-to sauce for Smoked Mackerel Stew, Jollof Rice, and Egusi Soup!

Lemon

You will need freshly squeezed lemon juice to marinate the red bream fish. It also lessens the fishy taste and smell of the dish to infuse it with the flavor of the pepper sauce. 

No matter what type of fish you cook, you can squeeze in some lemon juice for a better experience.

Seasonings

Improve the quality of the Red Bream Stew with herbs and spices. In this recipe, I suggest using mixed herbs, curry powder, stock cubes, and sea salt. These also give the dish a smoky and savory flavor.

You can try other seasonings that suit your preferences, too.

Sunflower oil

Cook the sauce and fish in sunflower oil. Its high smoke point makes it perfect for slow-cooked dishes like this stew. 

Can you believe these are all you need to make Red Bream Stew? It may not have lots of toppings, but it is certainly bursting with flavor! 

Directions

Put on your apron, and start cooking this amazing Red Bream Stew.

Marinate the fish

1. Clean and rinse the fresh red bream fish in cold water. 
2. Place the fish in a bowl of cold water.
3. Then, season it with salt and lemon juice. 
4. Let it marinate for at least two hours.

Cook the Red Bream Stew

1. Heat oil in a pot.
2. Pour in the pepper sauce.
3. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for ten minutes.
4. Season it with curry powder, mixed herbs, sea salt, and stock cubes.
5. Then, cook it for ten more minutes.
6. Taste and season as needed. 
7. Reduce the fire to low heat and cook for five more minutes.
8. Add the seasoned fish to the stew.
9. Cover the fish with the sauce using a spoon.
10. Cook it for five more minutes or until done.
11. Serve with your favorite side dishes! 

How much did you love your first taste of Red Bream Stew? It’s truly one of the best dishes to cook when you’re craving fish!

Tips

Buying fish

• Fish For Thought suggests buying fish with clear and bright eyes.
• Check if the gills are red.
• Ensure that the scales are attached to the fish.
• The skin should also feel slippery and moist.
• The fish’s tail and flesh should feel firm.

Storing fish

1. Rinse and dry the fish. 
2. Wrap it in cling film.
3. Then, put the fish in a resealable bag or freezer bag.
4. Refrigerate it for two days or freeze it for three months.

Making pepper sauce

Tomatoes, scotch bonnet, red bell peppers, and a small onion are all that you need to make tasty and healthy pepper sauce! Here’s how you can turn them into a sauce:

1. Deseed and chop the tomatoes, scotch bonnet, and red bell peppers using a knife. 
2. Then, peel and slice the onion. 
3. Blend them in a blender until smooth. 
4. Store it in a container for future use.

Red Bream Stew Variations

Let’s keep the Red Bream Stew interesting with the many variations that it comes in!

In Provencal cuisine, the red bream is cooked in fish stock or white wine instead of pepper sauce. It also has tomatoes, onions, black olives, and a combination of dried herbs for an awesome flavor.

There is also a Spanish-style red bream stew, also called “pescado a la marinera”, which is a kind of stew that uses tomatoes, bell peppers, and spicy chorizo sausages. It is traditionally seasoned with smoked paprika, sherry, and saffron.

The best thing about stew recipes like this Red Bream Stew is that you can prepare them differently. For instance, you can use other fish instead of red bream fish. You may use croaker, tilapia, salmon, halibut, sea bass, cod, and more!

Furthermore, you can add vegetables like potatoes, carrots, olives, squash, and other ingredients for stewing. Meanwhile, try adding paprika, all-purpose seasoning, or chili flakes.

More Stew Recipes

• Fried Pepper Stew – infuse meat and vegetables with the incredible quality of the pepper sauce.
• Ewa Agoyin Stew – enjoy one of the best stews in Nigeria, the Ewa Agoyin Stew.
• Assorted Meat Stew – experience the savory goodness of stew in a rich broth.
• Smoked Mackerel Stew – mackerel is also an excellent fish option to stew.
• Fish Stew – don’t just use one fish, but use different kinds of fish for a comforting dish.

Recommended Tools

• Pot: Cook the Red Bream Stew in a pot.
• Spoon: Stir the stew using a spoon.
• Bowl: Marinate the fish in a bowl.

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How to Serve Red Bream Stew

Nothing excites me more than eating Red Bream Stew!

Whether you’re cooking it for lunch or dinner, the Red Bream Stew will surely taste incredible. It’s one of the best dishes to serve on a date or a gathering with the entire family.

Serving Red Bream Stew can be exciting every time because of the different side dishes you can pair it with. It’s perfect for lunch and dinner with any of the following dishes:

• Jollof Rice – make your meal extra savory with a stew and Jollof Rice.
• No-Oven Bread – try dipping bread in the stew to taste the delight.
• Amala Fele Fele – stews taste extra delicious when you serve them with swallow foods.
• Oatmeal Fufu – you will especially enjoy the stew with fufu on the side.
• Fried Yam – starchy yams are absolutely yummy with a good stew.

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Eat the Red Bream Stew for the best flavors and texture within two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of fish is red bream?

Red bream is a marine fish that you can usually find in the Mediterranean Sea and some parts of Europe and Africa. It is known for its reddish-pink color and black spots on its body.

What is red sea bream in Korean?

In Korea, the red bream stew is called “hong-do-da-ri”. Hong means red while da-ri means bream. It is cooked in lots of ways in Asian cuisine, too. Korea also has a Red Bream Stew version of its own.

What is the best way to cook red bream?

There are so many ways to cook red bream. For instance, you can grill it for only five minute with your favorite herbs and spices. You can also deep fry it for a crunchy texture outside and a tender feeling inside.

For me, the best way to cook red bream is to stew it. All you have to add is a flavorful sauce that will make the fish taste better.

What does sea bream taste like?

Red bream has a delicate and mild flavor with a hint of brininess that also depends on how it is prepared, seasoned, and cooked. It also has a mildly sweet flavor that’s not overpowering.