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bowl of marmitako tuna stew.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Marmitako (Basque Tuna Stew)

This easy and delicious Basque tuna stew (marmitako) is bursting with flavor and is ready in less than an hour! It's perfect for dinner tonight.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Spanish
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 256.04kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound raw tuna cubed
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 bell pepper chopped
  • 2 medium onions chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • red pepper paste (ñora) or a dried sweet red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked Spanish sweet paprika
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes or two diced medium tomatoes
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 4-5 medium potatoes peeled and diced
  • 2 cups fish stock
  • fresh parsley or cilantro chopped for garnish

Instructions

  • Coat the bottom of a heavy pot with olive oil and place over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and onion, then sauté until soft and translucent but not browned, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, then add the red pepper paste or dried pepper and paprika and stir well.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook for 1 minute, then pour in the dry white wine and cook for another minute.
  • Add the potatoes, along with 2 cups of fish broth and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes). Add a bit more broth or water if necessary to keep the potatoes covered.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne (optional), then use the back of a spoon to mash a few of the potatoes to release their starch and thicken the stew.
  • Add the cubes of tuna and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. Taste a piece of tuna to make sure it's fully cooked.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy! Although it's not traditional, I sometimes serve this over basmati rice, which makes it last even longer.

Notes

  • Use spicy smoked paprika for a little bit of heat.
  • Mash a few of the potato cubes in the stew to break down the starch and thicken the stew even more.
  • Adjust the seasonings to taste for the right balance of salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 256.04kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.41g | Protein: 8.58g | Fat: 1.23g | Saturated Fat: 0.28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.53g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.17g | Sodium: 414.55mg | Potassium: 1348.86mg | Fiber: 6.99g | Sugar: 7.57g | Vitamin A: 1552.49IU | Vitamin C: 101.8mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2.89mg