This Easy Bouillabaisse post is sponsored by Knotty Vines. The opinions and text are all mine.
An Easy Bouillabaisse recipe that you can make at home. This French fish stew is loaded with fresh seafood and flavorful broth. The perfect soup to make on any weeknight dinner or special occasion!

Learn how to make this traditional Provençal fish stew. Bouillabaisse is a popular dish that is oftentimes served at fancy seafood restaurants.
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The best food to eat with Cabernet Sauvignon wine
This seafood dish looks complicated but anyone with even the most basic cooking skills can actually make it at home.
My husband melts for seafood so this quick prep dish is perfect for date night. It also pairs well with the 2018 Knotty Vines Cabernet Sauvignon.
I was excited to get in touch with my naughty side and try their seductive wine varieties.
I love the clever name and the look of their bottles, and especially the indulging taste. Having that alongside the Bouillabaisse made our night!
We’ve had more date nights at home these months, and the modern new Knotty Vines is the perfect way to jazz things up.
A Bouillabaisse is one of the more popular seafood dishes served around the world due to its flexibility and delicious components. It's so versatile and can be prepared in a number of ways, but always has that wow factor.
I do love enjoying seafood with great wine and don’t always follow what the experts recommend for wine pairings.
About this Provençal fish stew
This easy Bouillabaisse recipe uses simple seasoning that you probably already have in your pantry.
In this recipe, I used a combination of cod, lobster, mussels, clams, shrimp, and sea scallops. The broth is made of fresh tomato, seafood stock, and aromatic vegetables.
You can use any combination of seafood of your choice. The only important thing that you need to remember is to always use the freshest seafood that you can find in your local area.
How to Make Bouillabaisse
This fish stew has a pretty long ingredient list but actually pretty easy to make.
Step 1. Prepare the broth
Cook the aromatic vegetables for about 8 minutes.
Add tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and saffron threads. Cook for about 8 minutes.
Step 2. Add fish and shellfish
Add broth and bring to a moderate boil until the broth is thickened a bit.
Cook fish for about 2 minutes then add shellfish and cook for 5 minutes or longer or until they are fully cooked.
Make sure you have enough liquid in your pan to fully cover the seafood.
Check Out More Soup Recipes:
- Easy Fish Chowder
- Fish Soup
- Tomato Potato Soup
- Great Northern Bean Soup (White Bean Soup)
- Albondigas Soup (Mexican Caldo De Albondigas)
- French Onion Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder
- Instant Pot Greek Chicken Lemon Rice Soup
📖 Recipe
Easy Bouillabaisse
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 fennel bulb, (trimmed and chopped)
- ¾ cup diced celery
- ½ cup diced carrots
- 4 garlic cloves, (minced)
- 1 cup diced red potatoes
- 2½ cups diced fresh tomatoes, (peeled)
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon saffron threads
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 4 cups fish or seafood stock
- 1¼ pounds chopped boneless fish , (such as cod, halibut, red snapper, or sea bass), cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2-3 small lobster tails , (about 4 oz each, halved)
- 15 shrimp
- ¾ pound clams
- ½ pound mussels
- 6 sea scallops
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion, celery, carrot, potato, fennel for 8 minutes.
- Add garlic, chopped tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and saffron. Cook and keep stirring for 8 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a moderate boil until it is thickened a bit and until the potatoes are almost tender.
- Add the fish then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Add shellfish, simmer gently, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or longer until they are fully cooked. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper if needed. Serve and enjoy with a glass of 2018 Knotty Vines Cabernet Sauvignon.
Beth Sachs
The fish soup looks so vibrant and inviting. I bet it's so tasty.
Rika
Thanks, Beth!
Amber Myers
This looks delicious. I do love French dishes, so I am sure I will gobble this right up.
Rika
I love French dishes too. It's actually quite simple to make, try it out soon.
Tasheena
I’ve never had fish stew before, this looks really flavorful. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Bri
What a great recipe! And perfect timing for Lent!
Rika
Thanks, Bri!
Heather
This bouillabaisse looks and sounds delicious!! Can't wait to make for my family.
Monica Simpson
My husband studied abroad in France and ate this all the time. I should try and make it for him!
Rika
He is so lucky! I wish I could study abroad in France too!
Beth
This looks like an amazing dish for a seafood lover!
Rika
Absolutely! It has all kind of seafood 🙂 just perfect for a seafood lover.
Nikki Wayne
Wow.. this looks so perfect..! I can imagine how the soup of it would taste like.
Gervin Khan
Oh , I love this recipe! It's delicious and easy, will be make this as a part of my main dish on my son's birthday.
Rika
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Gervin.
Anosa Malanga
My sister loves seafoods and I guess this will be a good idea to serve over the Valentines. For sure she will love this and definitely be surprised if I will personally make this. Glad I came over this post. Thanks for the recipe!
Rika
I think this Bouillabaisse recipe would be perfect for Valentine's Day 🙂