This North Carolina Fish Stew is loaded with chunks of fish, bacon, potatoes and onions in a seasoned tomato broth, then finished off with eggs cooked right in the stew… it’s an Eastern NC classic!
This fish stew is a seafood tradition in my family; we’ve enjoyed it for as long as I can remember. The flavors are complex, but it’s actually a simple, no-fuss recipe.
As you can see, the ingredients are quite simple!
Helpful Tips
- Use a FIRM fish, such as red drum or sheepshead. You want the fish to be chunky in this stew. If you use a flaky fish, it will break apart so much during cooking, you’ll hardly know it’s even there.
- Don’t stir the pot! Even when using a firm fish, it will still break up some during cooking. If you stir, you’ll risk the chance of breaking the fish up into tiny little pieces, and we don’t want that. You can very gently (and carefully) shake the pot back and forth (while the lid is on) a few times while it’s cooking, but it is not mandatory.
- Freeze your bacon for about 20 to 30 minutes before cutting. This firms it up, making it easier to cut into pieces.
- If you want to do your prep work ahead of time, place your peeled and cut potatoes in a large bowl of cold water with a splash of lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Store covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before using in the stew.
Start off by frying bacon in a large (8 to 10 quart) pot or Dutch oven. I highly recommend a 10 quart stockpot, as I used an 8 quart and was pushing the limit with my pot’s capacity. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a plate and leave the fat in the pot.
On top of the fat left in the pot, you will layer the ingredients. The first layer will be the potatoes.
The next layer will be chopped yellow onion.
Place the fish chunks on top of the yellow onion layer.
Then you’ll add tomato soup, stewed tomatoes, seasonings and just enough water to cover the ingredients. It’s okay if a few of the tomatoes are a little above the water. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and cook.
During the last few minutes of cook time, you’ll add the eggs and allow them to gently boil until fully cooked, about 4 to 5 minutes. Serve with cornbread, hushpuppies or saltine crackers.
Enjoy!
More Seafood Soups and Chowders
North Carolina Fish Stew
Ingredients
- ½ pound thick cut bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3 pounds white potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces (about 8 cups)
- 2 pounds yellow onions chopped (about 7 cups)
- 3 pounds firm fish such as red drum or sheepshead filets, sliced into about 3 inch pieces
- 1 (10 ¾ ounce) can condensed tomato soup
- 2 (14 ½ ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
- Pinch red pepper
- 5 cups water approximately
- 6 large eggs
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp over medium heat in an 8 to 10 quart Dutch oven or heavy pot (I recommend a 10 quart), about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn off heat, remove bacon and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Set bacon aside and leave fat in pot.
- Add potatoes, onions and fish in layers (in the order written) in the pot over the fat. Do not stir.
- Pour in tomato soup and stewed tomatoes with juices.
- Add salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and red pepper.
- Add just enough water to cover (approximately 5 cups). Do not stir.
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil/high simmer (medium to medium low).
- Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender (but not falling apart) and fish is fully cooked.
- While stew is at a gentle boil, add eggs one at a time (break the eggs and put the raw eggs into the stew, then discard shells) in a single layer on top of the stew. Cook until eggs are fully cooked (about 4 to 5 minutes). Note that the eggs will break up into chunks while they're cooking.
- Season with additional salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and/or red pepper, if desired.
- Return reserved bacon to stew or serve topped with reserved bacon.
Notes
- Do not stir while cooking, you’ll risk breaking up the fish chunks. You can very gently (and carefully) shake the pot back and forth (while the lid is on) a few times while the stew is cooking, but it is not mandatory.
- Cook time includes the time it takes for stew to come to a gentle boil (approximately 20 minutes)
- This recipe yields approximately 7 quarts, which is 14 (2 cup) servings
- Red pepper flakes can be added or substituted for red pepper.
- Diced tomatoes with juices can be substituted for stewed tomatoes
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Originally published December 10, 2011. Updated with photographs, helpful tips and recipe revised April 2020.
Super simple and extra tasty. I prefer this version to the “chef-fy” version requiring more ingredients, more time and more work. I used tilapia and it was good. I also substituted vegetable stock for the plain water (chicken stock would probably work well, too.) You could probably dial down the bacon amount to make it healthier, but who would want to? There are things you could add to make it spicier, but I will leave that to you. The Old Bay was perfect as directed. Find a piece of bread to dunk in the delicious broth.
My father owns a restaurant, my grandfather owned a fish market so I know what good fish stew should taste like..I just wasn’t sure how to make it…you nailed it! I made this for My parents and my Dad said it was better than his..It was delicious! Thank you❤️
Hi Debra, Wow you made my day! Thank you so much for the nice words. I’m so glad you and your parents enjoyed the fish stew!
I’m not clear about how you are adding the eggs. Do you leave the eggs in the shell to cook or crack the egg open letting it rest on top of the stew to poach? Please make clear. Thank you.
Hi Sande, crack the eggs open and put them in the stew; discard the shells. The boiling will cause the eggs to break up into pieces while they’re cooking. Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy the stew! 🙂
Bring stew to low boil. Crack the eggs one at a time into a bowl to ensure yoke is not broken. Gently pour whole egg into stew to poach for 5-6 minutes. A true Eastern N.C fish stew is always accompanied by a fresh loaf of white bread to soak up the broth. Enjoy
Do I put eggs in whole or lightly beat before adding?
Hi Bonnie, I add them in whole – the boiling will cause the eggs to break up into pieces while they’re cooking. I hope you enjoy the stew!!
This stew is incredible!
The fish stew is super delicious, the best ever.
No, I’ve never tried it with out the pork 🙂 The best type of fish to use is a FIRM fish that doesn’t flake & will stay “chunky” in the stew, such as drum. We’ve actually mixed a lot of frozen fish we’ve had in the freezer (buffet!) and it’s turned out well. It’s a good way of cleaning your freezer of frozen fish and feeding a lot of guests!
The site is awesome and this recipe looks yummy! What kind of fish do you recommend? Also, I know bacon fat addes tons of flavor, but have you tried it without?
Luv You Bunches!
We love rockfish/striper in it.
Rock fish, to me, is the gold standard. You can also break all of the eggs together into a large measuring cup, and pour the eggs onto the top of the stew, do it slowly, and you’ll see that the eggs , even though they’re together , they will come out individually.
Thanks for the tip, Tommy!
This is the absolute BEST fish stew you will ever eat!