Zuppa di Pesce alla Siciliana (Sicilian Fish Soup)

Sicilian zuppa di pesce brings together shellfish, firm white fish and prawns in a light tomato broth scented with garlic, chilli and white wine. It sits somewhere between a soup and a seafood stew: brothy enough for spooning, but generous with seafood and best served with crisp bread to catch the juices. The key is gentle cooking, so the mussels open cleanly, the fish stays in tender pieces and the prawns remain just cooked. Parsley added at the end keeps the bowl fresh, while the tomato and stock give it the savoury depth that makes this a satisfying dinner without feeling heavy.
Cuisine style Sicilian seafood cooking
Spice level Medium
Cooking style One-pot cooking • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Layered broth: Garlic, chilli, white wine, tomatoes and fish stock create a savoury base before the seafood is added.
  • Seafood cooked in stages: Mussels, fish and prawns are added according to their cooking times, helping each element stay just done.
  • Built for bread: The tomato-rich broth is central to the dish, making toasted crusty bread an essential part of serving.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Choose firm white fish: Use a firm, skinless white fish that can hold its shape in the broth rather than flaking apart too quickly.
  • Check the mussels carefully: Use only fresh mussels with closed shells, discarding any that are cracked or do not close when tapped.
  • Use a dry white wine: A dry white wine keeps the broth bright and savoury rather than sweet.

Texture tips

  • Keep the simmer gentle: Once the fish goes in, avoid a rolling boil; gentle heat helps the fish stay intact and keeps the prawns tender.
  • Cut the fish generously: Larger bite-sized pieces are less likely to break up while the soup finishes cooking.

Adjust the heat

  • For less heat: Reduce the chilli flakes or replace them with smoked paprika for warmth without much spice.
  • For more heat: Add extra chilli flakes when cooking the garlic so the heat infuses the oil and broth.

Make-ahead tips

  • Make the broth ahead: The tomato and fish stock base can be prepared in advance, then reheated gently before adding the seafood.
  • Reheat gently: Warm leftovers over low heat until piping hot, taking care not to overcook the fish and prawns.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. Prepare the seafood: scrub and debeard the mussels, discarding any that are cracked or do not close when tapped. Cut the white fish into large bite-sized pieces. Peel the prawns if needed and pat them dry.
  2. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, without letting the garlic colour.
  3. Pour in the white wine and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to cook off the alcohol. Stir in the tomatoes and fish stock, then bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Add the mussels, cover, and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, shaking the pot once or twice, until the shells open. Lift the mussels out with a ladle, discarding any that stay closed, and keep them warm in a bowl.
  5. Return the broth to a gentle simmer and add the fish. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the fish is just turning opaque, then add the prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until pink and just cooked through.
  6. Stir the mussels back into the pot and take it off the heat. Finely chop the parsley and stir most of it through the soup, saving a little to finish.
  7. Toast the bread until crisp and golden. Ladle the soup into bowls, scatter over the remaining parsley, and serve straight away with the toast for dipping.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • Keep the broth at a gentle simmer once the fish goes in; a hard boil can break the fish and make the prawns tough.
  • If you are serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, make sure the prawns are fully cooked through and the mussels are piping hot.

Substitutions

  • Replace Dry White Wine with fish stock for an alcohol-free version; add it at the same point and simmer as directed.
  • Replace Chili flakes with smoked paprika for a milder heat and a slightly smoky note.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Cool quickly and refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat until piping hot, taking care not to overcook the fish and prawns.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 3 servings
  • Total time: 45min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Allergens:
    Crustaceans Fish Gluten Molluscs
One pot

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife

Sharp modern chef knife
  • AUS-10 steel
  • Balanced design
  • Less traditional feel

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife

Sharp modern chef knife
  • AUS-10 steel
  • Balanced design
  • Less traditional feel
Best value

Titanium & PP Double-Sided Cutting Board

Easy-clean double-sided board
  • Separate surfaces for meat and produce
  • Resists odors and stains
  • Harder on knife edges than wood or plastic
Top quality

WÜSTHOF Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife

Premium German chef knife
  • Excellent build quality
  • Reliable edge retention
  • Expensive
Best overall

OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set

Practical everyday board set
  • Two useful sizes with reversible cutting surfaces
  • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
  • Plastic surfaces will show knife marks over time

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?

Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.

Add JustRecipes to Google

Every recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.