A Variation on Provençal Seafood Stew
David Scott Allen · Fish & Seafood · Main Course · Provencal Recipes · TasteSeafood defines the coastline cuisine in Provence after all this is a place where Marseille proudly boasts about the Bouillabaisse Charter. It is also where you can buy seafood of every description in the Martigues market, and the fishmongers can tell you the names of the ugliest fish in (or out of) the sea.
David says it was fortuitous that he received a bottle of Whispering Angel rosé at the same time as a recipe for Provençal Seafood Stew appeared in the New York Times. The following is the Cocoa & Lavender adaptation of a classic stew or soup from Provence.

Provençal Seafood Stew
This recipe from Cocoa & Lavender was adapted from a recipe by Mark Bittman.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chickpeas canned
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup breadcrumbs fresh
- salt
- ground black pepper
- 1 shallot(s) minced
- 1/4 cup oil-cured olives pitted and sliced
- 2 tbsp capers
- 3 anchovy fillets finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- large pinch piment d’Espelette or chilli flakes
- 6 oz spinach
- 2 cups fish stock or shrimp stock
- 5 oz cod sliced
- 8 oz Squid roughly chopped
- 8 oz medium shrimp shelled and deveined
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Put 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- When hot, add bread crumbs, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until they’re crisp and toasted, 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet; increase heat to medium-high.
- When oil is hot, add shallot, olives, capers and anchovies.
- Cook, stirring, until fragrant - a minute or two.
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it darkens slightly – about 2 minutes.
- Add the spinach, stirring until it starts to release its water; add the stock and chickpeas.
- When it returns to a gentle boil, stir in the cod, squid, and shrimp.
- Cook until the seafood is just cooked through, 3-5 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the stew and stir a couple of times.
- Divide among bowls, sprinkle with bread crumbs and serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous Post
French Fashion: Bobo StyleNext Post
Recipe for Wild Mushroom BisqueRelated Provence Articles
Scallops with Lemon and Caper Butter
September 24, 2021
Hosting can be really stressful, but it doesn’t need to be! This zesty scallop dish was part of a canapé party last Christmas. However, scallops with lemon and capers are a perfect choice for an appetizer at any time of the year. Chill a bottle of Provencal rosé and enjoy this quick recipe on its …
Recipe for Wild Mushroom Bisque
November 16, 2016
As the weather gets cooler, my go-to dinner is often a hearty soup and a winter salad. Sturdy vegetables available in the late fall and winter such as squash, root vegetables, broccoli and cauliflower often combined with dried legumes and mushrooms lend themselves to a slow simmer on the stove top. Making soup is a satisfying Sunday afternoon activity. …
Creamy Mushroom and Chestnut Soup for Fall Weather
December 9, 2019
Luckily, this recipe for Creamy Mushroom and Chestnut Soup is so delicious it has stopped my brown food colour rant in its tracks.…
A Savoury Melon Soup Starter
May 30, 2016
Giuseppina Mabilia, who blends a fusion of tastes from Italy and Provence at her cooking school Venise en Provence shares this recipe for a savoury, cold melon soup. Perfect for a starter in the heat of summer, or for lunch. …
No Comment