Salmon Stew Caribbean

Featured in Cozy soups to warm your heart.

This tasty Caribbean-inspired stew is a quick way to pack dinnertime with flavor. Crispy seared salmon is gently simmered in a robust sauce featuring sweet peppers, onions, thyme, soy, hoisin, and just enough spice from scotch bonnet. Balance the heat to your liking, and have this dairy-free dish done in just 30 minutes!
Maria from tastyhush
Updated on Sat, 12 Apr 2025 19:50:45 GMT
A vibrant bowl of salmon with colorful veggies in sauce. Pin it
A vibrant bowl of salmon with colorful veggies in sauce. | tastyhush.com

Dive into Caribbean magic with our deeply flavorful brown stew salmon. Juicy fish basks in a well-crafted sauce packed with island spices, resulting in a dish that's both homey and fancy at once.

You'll love how your kitchen smells when making this. We've stuck to island cooking roots while throwing in salmon for something fresh and different.

Must-Have Components

  • Salmon: Go for pieces that look bright and feel firm. Try to get fillets that are the same thickness so they'll cook evenly.
  • Sweet Peppers: Throw in different colors to make it taste better and look prettier.
  • Fresh Herbs: Don't skip the fresh thyme and garlic for that real Caribbean taste.
  • Scotch Bonnet: You need this pepper for its fruity kick and signature warmth.
  • Sauce Base: Good soy sauce and brown sugar will give you amazing flavor depth.

Cooking Steps

Fish Preparation:
Wash salmon with lime and dry it off. Make sure you season it all over for the best taste.
Searing:
Get the salmon nice and brown in hot oil, about 5-7 minutes on each side.
Vegetable Base:
Cook your veggies until soft but still colorful and a bit crunchy.
Sauce:
Add ingredients bit by bit, stirring until everything looks shiny and thick.
A tasty dish up close, showing fish with colorful veggies including carrots and bell peppers. Pin it
A tasty dish up close, showing fish with colorful veggies including carrots and bell peppers. | tastyhush.com

You'll get the best results when your sauce is just right and your fish stays juicy and falls apart easily.

How Long To Cook

Your salmon needs to reach 145°F inside. The sauce should thicken enough to stick to a spoon, usually 2-3 minutes after putting the fish back in.

Serving Ideas

Put it on a bed of rice and peas, letting that yummy sauce drip down. Add some fresh herbs and bright peppers on top to make it look amazing.

Other Ways To Try It

Try throwing in some callaloo or okra for a twist. You can make it spicier or milder by changing how much scotch bonnet you use. Just don't go overboard with extras that might overpower the fish.

Keeping Leftovers

You can keep what's left in your fridge for up to 3 days. It actually tastes even better the next day, though the fish won't be as nice as when fresh. Heat it up slowly when you want seconds.

All the parts of this meal work together to create amazing Caribbean flavors. When you make it with love, you'll get something that's both simple and fancy.

What To Serve With It

Pair with rice and peas cooked in coconut milk, a tangy island slaw, some sweet fried plantains, or just plain steamed veggies.

Food in a bowl with fish and mixed vegetables. Pin it
Food in a bowl with fish and mixed vegetables. | tastyhush.com

This way of cooking really makes salmon special while staying true to Caribbean cooking traditions. You'll end up with something fancy enough for guests but easy enough for a family dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use another type of fish?
Definitely! Firm fish like cod or snapper are great options, but keep an eye on their cooking time.
→ How do I control the spice level?
For less heat, don’t cut the scotch bonnet or just skip it. Craving more? Chop it finely and add to taste!
→ Are there substitutes for hoisin sauce?
Yes! Mix a spoon of brown sugar with a little browning sauce for a slightly different flavor.
→ Any tips for flipping the salmon?
Make sure the fish lifts easily from the pan before flipping to avoid breaking it.
→ What pairs best with this dish?
Serve it with rice, sweet plantains, or simple steamed vegetables for a truly satisfying meal.

Salmon Stew Caribbean

Tender salmon simmered in a bold, spiced island-style sauce with onions, bell peppers, and a dash of heat. A fast, satisfying, and wholesome meal.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Maria

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Jamaican

Yield: 3 Servings

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Fish Flavoring

01 Two pieces of salmon fillets
02 Half a teaspoon of all-purpose seasoning or seasoning salt
03 A pinch of regular salt (1/2 teaspoon)
04 Half a teaspoon of garlic powder
05 A dash of black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)

→ Veggies

06 A couple of garlic cloves, minced finely
07 A quarter scotch bonnet pepper
08 Half an onion, sliced or chopped
09 A handful of thyme sprigs, roughly chopped
10 A quarter green bell pepper, diced or sliced
11 A quarter red bell pepper, diced or sliced
12 Half a tomato, diced or sliced

→ Flavorful Sauce

13 1/4 cup of chicken or vegetable stock
14 A tablespoon of soy sauce
15 One tablespoon of hoisin sauce
16 A couple of teaspoons of brown sugar
17 A cup of neutral oil for frying fish

Instructions

Step 01

Wash the salmon fillets in cold water using a lime or lemon. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Coat each piece in salt, pepper, and seasoning salt.

Step 02

Heat up a big pan with a bit of oil over medium-high. Place the salmon in and fry for about 5–7 minutes on each side until golden and crisp. Once done, transfer onto a rack to cool.

Step 03

Remove most of the oil but leave around 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the onion, garlic, tomato, scotch bonnet, and peppers to the hot pan. Cook until the mixture smells amazing, then mix in the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and broth.

Step 04

Add the salmon back into the pan and cover it in the sauce. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes with the lid partly covering the pan. Before serving, spoon over some of that delicious sauce.

Notes

  1. You can swap hoisin sauce with browning and a little brown sugar.
  2. Don’t flip the fish too early—wait till it naturally releases.
  3. For less heat, leave the scotch bonnet whole. Want spicy? Chop it up!

Tools You'll Need

  • A large pan that doesn’t stick
  • A cooling rack with a baking tray beneath it
  • A flipper to turn the fish pieces
  • A guard to keep oil from splattering everywhere

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • This includes salmon, which is fish.
  • There’s soy in this meal.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 229
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 15 g
  • Protein: 24 g