Our family’s Mediterranean fish in tomato sauce is probably the easiest fish recipe you’ll ever make. This enticingly flavorful recipe comes from my husband’s family, right from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. You can use pretty much any boneless white fish you like here. Fish fillets are slowly simmered with tomato sauce, garlic cloves, roasted bell peppers, spices, and fresh herbs. Consequently, with very few ingredients, this recipe manages to produce a lot of Mediterranean flavor! And the best part is, it takes very little effort. This easy, healthy fish recipe is a delicious entree for a weeknight, or anytime.
My husband grew up in Israel on shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Fresh fish was a major part of their family diet, and it was prepared in many different ways. His mother, of Sephardic Jewish ancestry, loved to make this healthy fish recipe for Shabbat and holidays. Her fish in tomato sauce has been in the family for generations, and it’s one of my husband’s personal favorite dishes.
This Mediterranean fish in tomato sauce is so easy to make. After defrosting your fish (if using frozen fillets), it only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook. The sauce is mildly spicy and slightly sweet, filled with a wonderful garlicky flavor.
While 20 minutes might seem like a long time to simmer fish fillets, the bed of herbs below helps to keep them away from direct heat. Consequently the fish slowly simmers, soaking up the rich flavor of the sauce. The fillets may separate a bit while cooking, depending on how thin they’re cut. If you’re concerned about what kind of fish to use, sea bass and cod tend to hold up quite well.
What To Serve with Mediterranean Fish in Tomato Sauce
I like to serve this Mediterranean fish in tomato sauce over cauliflower couscous for a low carb, gluten free, light and satisfying meal. Additionally you may serve it over regular couscous, basmati rice, or even mashed potatoes, if you’re so inclined. Cauliflower couscous is really delicious, and it’s kosher for Passover too, which makes it super versatile.
You will need to purchase roasted bell peppers, or learn how to roast bell peppers (they’re very easy to make). Otherwise, the preparation is beyond simple.
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Mediterranean Fish in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 boneless thin, lean white fish fillets (sea bass, branzino, sea bream, flounder, or similar)
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar or 1 tsp honey (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adds a slight kick – if you’re spice sensitive, feel free to omit)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 large roasted red bell peppers, peeled and sliced (see notes)
- 2 handfuls fresh cilantro or parsley
- 12 cloves garlic
- Cauliflower couscous, regular couscous, rice, or mashed potatoes for serving – optional (see notes)
NOTES
Instructions
- If your fish is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Rinse your fish fillets with cool water and pat dry. In a small bowl or 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together hot water, tomato paste, paprika, sugar or honey (optional), cayenne and 3/4 tsp salt (if you're watching your salt intake you can cut it to 1/2 tsp or less, as needed).
- In a large saute pan, spread out the cilantro or parsley, roasted bell pepper slices, and garlic cloves to make an even “bed” for the fish fillets.
- Place the fish fillets on top of the bed of herbs, peppers and garlic. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, then sprinkle evenly with the red pepper flakes.
- Pour the seasoned tomato paste liquid over the top of the fillets, coating each fillet with sauce. Turn on heat and bring the sauce to a medium simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium low, cover the saute pan, venting slightly, and let the fish simmer for about 15 minutes, basting every 3-4 minutes with sauce, until the fish is opaque and flaky.
- Remove the lid from the pan and turn up the heat to a higher simmer. Let the sauce simmer and reduce for about 5-7 more minutes, continuing to baste the fillets, until the sauce thickens a bit and the largest garlic cloves are soft.
- Serve fillets over couscous, cauliflower couscous, rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite starch (use cauliflower, rice, or potatoes to make gluten free). Top the fish with sauce, garlic cloves, and sliced peppers. We usually serve it with a light spinach salad, roasted vegetables, or sautéed greens on the side.
Nutrition
served this over a bed of leek risotto and it was really good, plus my 8 year old loved it
My family is from Boriken (Puerto Rico), and my grandma’s family made this dish all of the time when I was a child. This stuck me as it is not a common dish on the island. Until just now I’ve never been able to find the recipe. Her side of the family were Crypto Jews who migrated up from S. Turtle Island (S. America, we’re Indigenous as well). Today, they can practice openly on the island. We serve this over cassava, as cassava is a staple down there.
That part of the family has all but a few members left, and unfortunately we’ve all fallen out of touch when we moved to the Diaspora. I cannot tell you how happy this made me today. Thank you.
Wow, that’s really interesting Anna! Thank you so much for sharing. I will try this over cassava next time in your family’s honor!
This dish is the best mediterranean fish in tomato sauce recipe I have ever eaten. It is light, delicate and easy to prepare. The instructions are precise and easy to follow. I especially love the hint of garlic!
So glad you enjoyed it Timo!
Are the garlic cloves very garlicky or do they become sweet during the cooking? My DH suffers from stomach issues.
They definitely soften as they cook and the flavor dissipates. I also have trouble with strong garlic or raw garlic, this doesn’t bother me as long as I avoid eating the cloves themselves – the garlic essence is not overpowering. If you’re still worried you can roast the cloves before adding them to the sauté pan. I offer several methods for garlic roasting here: https://toriavey.com/how-to/how-to-roast-garlic/
HI Tory, do you think this sauce can be used for chicken breasts? THX
Hi Larisa, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. I don’t see why you couldn’t use this sauce for chicken breasts, however the cook time would likely change. Please let us know how it turns out if you decide to give it a try!
Was amazing w/ Atlantic cod laid over a bed of roasted yukon golds and petite rainbow carrots.
Hmm… looks good!
I’m going to try make this with the Alaska Pollock.
Tried your moroccan fish recipe recently and absolutely loved it. My 11-year-old daughter caught a 17″ smallmouth bass this morning and we are going to try your recipe with that. Can’t wait. I know it’s going to be great.
Thanks for the heads up Isaac! I’ve never tried this with smallmouth bass, let me know how it turns out. 🙂
As always, your recipe was a hit. I added some extra garlic cloves to make sure there were plenty to go around. I think this is the perfect preparation for a bass. As you know, they like warm water and love swimming in the weeds. So what could be better than simmering in a hot pan on a bed of cilantro . . . Thanks Tori. Love your website.
Just discovered your site and am glad I did. This recipe intrigues me. I’m not a bad cook, but i’m not very professional, either. It’s very helpful to show some of the step-by-step pictures. The visualization just makes it that much easier. I look forward to keeping up with your posts.
Thanks Doug, welcome! 🙂
Hello,
I tried this recipe, and my roommates and I really liked it. The flavor was good, and I appreciate how relatively simple it was to make. However, we noticed the that the fish smelled particularly “fishy” when we heated it up the next day. Have you experienced this? Or do you know how to keep that from happening? By the way, your website is beautiful, and I’m excited to try some of your other recipes.
Thanks 🙂
Hi Reba! I don’t usually keep fish leftovers, in my experience they always have that “fishy taste” the next day. I try to plan it so I only make what we’ll eat. Sorry I can’t help you more here. Glad you liked the recipe!
That looks amazing
Tori, PLEASE write a cookbook!
Debbie you are very kind! 🙂
you are making me hungry!
Wow that looks and sounds delicious – pinned!
This looks incredible!
That looks good Tori! Thanks will use Cod fish filets they take on flavors! Thanks again!