Feijoada de Marisco (Portuguese Seafood and White Bean Stew)
Why this recipe works
- Layered savoury base: Onion, garlic, paprika, tomatoes, bay and white wine create a rounded broth before the seafood is added.
- Beans give body: Cannellini beans and their liquid thicken the stew gently, giving it a glossy, satisfying texture without needing cream.
- Bright finish: Lemon and fresh coriander lift the richness of the beans and seafood, keeping the stew fresh rather than heavy.
Get the most out of this recipe
Authenticity notes
- Seafood feijoada: This version follows the feijoada idea of beans in a savoury stew, replacing the more familiar meat elements with mussels and prawns.
- Home-style serving: Serve it straight from the pot while the seafood is just cooked, with bread or rice to catch the tomato-rich broth.
Ingredient notes
- Check the mussels carefully: Use fresh mussels with intact shells, and discard any that remain open when tapped before cooking or fail to open after cooking.
- Add prawns late: Raw prawns cook quickly, so adding them at the end keeps them tender and prevents a rubbery texture.
- Season with lemon to taste: Add lemon gradually at the end; it should brighten the stew without overpowering the seafood.
Common mistakes
- Boiling the beans too hard: Keep the stew at a gentle simmer once the beans are added; vigorous boiling can break them up and cloud the broth.
- Overcooking the seafood: Cook mussels only until they open and prawns only until opaque, then take the pot off the heat.
- Storing shellfish carelessly: Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in a sealed container and reheat gently until piping hot; do not freeze this stew.
Ingredient swaps
- Without white wine: Use water instead of wine and simmer the tomato base a little longer to round out the flavour.
- Herb swap: Fresh parsley can replace coriander for a milder, more classic herb finish.
- Smokier base: Smoked paprika can replace sweet paprika if you want a deeper, gently smoky note.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Sort the mussels, discarding any with broken shells or any that stay open when tapped. Rinse well and set aside. Finely chop the onion, slice the garlic, and roughly chop the coriander.
- Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of the salt and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the sweet paprika and bay leaves for 30 seconds. Add the canned tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, to thicken slightly. Pour in the white wine and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the cannellini beans and their liquid, then season with the remaining salt and the black pepper. Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the stew is glossy and slightly thickened. If it looks too thick, add a small splash of water and keep it at a steady simmer.
- Add the mussels, cover, and cook for 4 to 6 minutes until they open. Stir in the prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until just opaque. Discard any mussels that do not open.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir through most of the coriander. Squeeze in the lemon juice to taste and adjust seasoning with a little more black pepper if needed. Serve hot, scattered with the remaining coriander.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Keep the stew at a gentle simmer once the beans go in; a hard boil can break them up and make the broth cloudy.
- Add the prawns right at the end and cook only until opaque so they stay tender.
- Food safety: if serving vulnerable groups, use cooked prawns and ensure the stew is piping hot throughout; discard any mussels that do not open after cooking.
Substitutions
- Replace Dry White Wine with the same amount of water for an alcohol-free version; simmer the tomatoes for an extra 2 minutes to round out the flavour.
- Replace Fresh coriander with Fresh parsley for a milder, more herby finish.
- Replace Sweet paprika with Smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky note.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool quickly, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat gently in a pot over low heat until piping hot, stirring often; avoid boiling to keep the prawns tender. Discard any leftover mussels still in their shells after reheating.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 1h (20min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Portuguese
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Allergens:
Crustaceans Molluscs
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