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Flavorful Brown Stew Salmon

Featured in Comforting Soups & Hearty Stews.

This Caribbean-inspired salmon dish is perfect for busy evenings. Flaky fish is seasoned, fried to perfection, and simmered in a vibrant mix of peppers, onions, and scotch bonnet, seasoned with traditional spices, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce for extra depth. The thyme adds just the right touch, and it’s all ready in 30 minutes. Naturally dairy-free and easily tweaked for less or more spice, this is a flavorful way to enjoy salmon any night.
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Updated on Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:25:24 GMT
A plate featuring salmon and veggies in a flavorful sauce. Pin it
A plate featuring salmon and veggies in a flavorful sauce. | linacooks.com

Experience the rich flavors of the Caribbean with this luxurious brown stewed salmon. The tender fish fillets simmer in a deeply flavored sauce that masterfully combines sweet, spicy and savory elements into an authentic island dish.

This recipe captures the essence of traditional Caribbean cooking while highlighting fresh salmon. The aromatic sauce and perfectly cooked fish create an impressive yet approachable main course.

Key Ingredients

  • Salmon: Use fresh fillets with bright color and firm texture. Select pieces of uniform thickness for even cooking.
  • Bell Peppers: Choose crisp peppers in various colors for flavor and visual appeal.
  • Fresh Herbs: Thyme, garlic, and onions provide authentic Caribbean flavor base.
  • Scotch Bonnet: This pepper adds essential heat and tropical fruit notes.
  • Sauce Base: Premium soy sauce, hoisin, and brown sugar create signature depth.

Preparation Method

Fish Prep:
Clean salmon with lime juice and water, pat dry, then season thoroughly.
Searing:
Brown salmon in hot oil until golden, about 5-7 minutes per side.
Vegetable Base:
Cook aromatics until softened while maintaining texture.
Sauce:
Build sauce gradually until rich and coating consistency is achieved.
A close-up of a delicious meal, featuring a piece of fish and a variety of vegetables, including carrots and peppers. Pin it
A close-up of a delicious meal, featuring a piece of fish and a variety of vegetables, including carrots and peppers. | linacooks.com

Success depends on achieving the perfect sauce consistency while maintaining moist, flaky salmon.

Cooking Time

Cook salmon to 145°F internal temperature. Reduce sauce until it coats the fish, typically 2-3 minutes after returning salmon to pan.

Presentation

Serve over rice and peas, letting sauce coat both components. Garnish with fresh thyme and colorful peppers.

Variations

Incorporate callaloo or okra for authentic Caribbean vegetables. Adjust heat level by varying scotch bonnet amount. Keep additions balanced with the sauce.

Storage

Keep in sealed containers up to 4 days. Flavors develop overnight, but fish texture is best fresh. Warm gently when reheating.

This dish exemplifies Caribbean cuisine's ability to transform simple ingredients into complex, satisfying flavors.

Side Dishes

Serve with coconut-infused rice and peas, fresh Caribbean slaw, fried sweet plantains, and simple steamed vegetables.

A bowl of food with fish and vegetables. Pin it
A bowl of food with fish and vegetables. | linacooks.com

This brown stew salmon elevates a simple fish into an impressive Caribbean feast while maintaining its natural delicate flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I switch to a different kind of fish?
Absolutely, sturdy options like cod or snapper work great too, though you might need to adjust your cooking time.
→ What’s the best way to make this less spicy?
Keep the scotch bonnet whole to tone down the heat, or skip it altogether for a mild dish. Want more spice? Slice the pepper.
→ Is there a substitute for hoisin sauce?
Try blending a teaspoon of brown sugar with another teaspoon of browning sauce for a similar taste.
→ How can I tell when it’s time to flip the fish?
Wait until the salmon slides easily in the pan without sticking. That’s when it’s ready to turn over.
→ What pairs well with this recipe?
Serve it over rice, with fried plantains, or alongside some veggies for a complete Caribbean-style meal.

Brown Stew Fish Dish

Juicy salmon cooked in a hearty Caribbean sauce filled with bell peppers, hot scotch bonnet, and aromatic spices for a dinner that's full of bold flavors.

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

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Jamaican

Yield: 3 Servings

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

Ingredients

→ Fish Seasoning

01 2 pieces of salmon, fillet cut
02 ½ tsp of garlic granules
03 ½ tsp of table salt
04 ½ tsp of black pepper powder
05 ½ tsp of all-purpose seasoning or seasoning salt

→ Veggies

06 One-quarter of a tomato, thin pieces or cubes
07 Half an onion, either sliced thinly or cut into chunks
08 Two minced garlic cloves
09 Quarter of a red bell pepper, either slivered or diced
10 Quarter of a green bell pepper, prepared same as red pepper
11 Two sprigs of thyme, coarsely chopped
12 ¼ scotch bonnet, whole or sliced depending on heat preference

→ Sauce Mix

13 One tablespoon of soy sauce
14 Two teaspoons of unrefined brown sugar
15 A quarter cup of veggie or chicken broth
16 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
17 A cup of neutral cooking oil for frying purposes

Instructions

Step 01

Clean your salmon with cold water and lemon or lime juice. Pat them dry and season each side of the fillets with black pepper, salt, and either seasoning salt or all-purpose mix.

Step 02

In a big pan, heat your oil over medium-high until ready. Cook salmon fillets on both sides for around 5-7 minutes or until crispy and browned. Transfer them onto a wire rack to let oil drip off.

Step 03

Remove most of the used oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan. Drop in the peppers, garlic, onions, thyme, tomatoes, and scotch bonnet, and sauté them on medium heat. Stir in the broth, soy, and hoisin sauce.

Step 04

Move the fried fillets back into the pan. Coat them with the sauce by spooning it on top. Partly cover the pan, keeping the heat on medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Spoon the thickened sauce over again before serving.

Notes

  1. If you're out of hoisin sauce, mix brown sugar and browning as a quick alternative.
  2. To prevent breaking the fish, only flip it when it easily releases from the pan.
  3. For a milder flavor, leave the scotch bonnet uncut. Slice it if you like it spicier.

Tools You'll Need

  • Medium or large-size non-stick pan
  • A wire rack and a tray to set it on
  • Splatter guard for safer frying
  • A fish spatula or turner

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • This dish includes soy products.
  • Contains fish due to salmon.

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