Saffron & Tomato Fish Stew
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Total: 40 mins
This rich, fragrant fish stew is full of summery flavour from fresh, aniseedy tarragon and subtly floral saffron powder. They’re bubbled in a cherry tomato passata sauce with tender pieces of fish, soft cannellini beans and plenty of seasonal veg.
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489 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 2 fennel bulb
  • 2 leek
  • 2 carrot
  • 2 celery stick
  • 2 garlic clove
  • 800g tin of cannellini beans
  • 660ml cherry tomato passata
  • A pinch or two of saffron powder
  • 2 vegetable stock cube
  • A handful of tarragon, leaves only
  • 680g fish pie mix
  • 2 lemon
From your kitchen
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 300ml boiling water
You'll need
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Large pan
  • Measuring jug
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Trim the base and any woody tops off the fennel. Cut the bulb in half and slice it into thin pieces. Trim the root and top 3cm off the leek. Slice it in half and rinse under a cold tap. Thinly slice the leek. Peel the carrot and trim the ends off the celery. Finely dice them both.

  • 2.

    Warm 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Add the fennel, leek, carrot and celery. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and fry for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, till softened.

  • 3.

    Meanwhile, peel and finely chop the garlic. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans with cold water. Fill and boil the kettle.

  • 4.

    When the veg have softened, add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Tip in the cannellini beans and the cherry tomato passata. Pour in 300ml boiling water. Add the saffron powder and crumble in the stock cube. Stir well and bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 mins.

  • 5.

    Meanwhile, pick the tarragon leaves and roughly chop them. When the stew has simmered for 15 mins, add the fish pie mix and chopped tarragon to the stew and gently stir. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 5 mins. The fish will be opaque and flake easily when pressed.

  • 6.

    Juice half the lemon into the pan. Have a taste and add more salt or pepper if you think it needs it. Ladle the fish stew into a couple of warm bowls and serve with wedges of the remaining lemon half on the side.

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