Nigerian Vegetable and Fish Stew
This beef builds firm white fish fillets or steaks, ripe tomatoes and scotch bonnet or habanero chilli into an easy meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and large pot. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Fish Shellfish
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page β how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Pat the fish dry, season lightly with salt and a little crumbled stock cube, then set aside while you build the stew base.
- Roughly chop the tomatoes, red bell peppers, chilli, half the onion and the garlic, then blend with a splash of water until you have a smooth red puree.
- Finely dice the remaining onion. Heat the vegetable oil in a wide pot over medium heat and fry the diced onion until soft and golden, about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the blended pepper mixture, stir well, and let it cook uncovered, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes until the raw smell disappears and the oil begins to float to the surface.
- Stir in the ground crayfish and the remaining crumbled stock cubes, then taste and adjust the salt, simmering for another 5 minutes.
- Gently lower the fish pieces into the simmering stew, spoon a little sauce over them, cover, and poach for 8 to 10 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily, reaching at least 63C in the centre.
- Scatter the spinach or pumpkin leaves over the top, cover for 2 minutes until just wilted, then turn off the heat and serve hot with rice or boiled yam.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet Β· Large pot Β· Saucepan Β· Blender
Tips & common questions
How long does Nigerian Vegetable and Fish Stew take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish β an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes β use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe β rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Nigerian Vegetable and Fish Stew is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Couscous with fish stew and vegetables.jpg by Suleiman213, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure β how we source recipes.