Easy recipe for classic French monkfish stew: cooked in tomatoes, garlic, onions, white wine, Cognac and served with rice. Perfect for entertaining, it's deliciously healthy and easy to prepare in advance. No bones about it!
Although monkfish is popular in France, this recipe also works well with any other white meaty fish such as Mahi- Mahi.
A divine recipe! Tried it for the first time last night - why did I not try it before?! Absolutely stunning!
Jérôme
French Monkfish stew is a classic and often served on special occasions, as it uses top ingredients yet is so easy to make for entertaining. However, it's known in France as both Lotte à L'Américaine and Lotte à L'Armoricaine - although refers to the same dish. I'll tell you why below.
I love this easy monkfish recipe and each time I make it, the family ask why we don't have it more often. That's coming from my eldest daughter who doesn't even like white fish!
A Popular French Fish Stew For Special Occasions
When first starting out in Paris in 1992, I remember being bowled over by this dish cooked by Antoine’s friends. It's a regional speciality of Brittany: a chic yet simple French Monkfish stew. Known as Lotte à l’Armoricaine, it's cooked in white wine, garlic, onions and tomatoes with that extra French touch of being flambéed with Cognac.
It was the first time we were served fish for the main course at a French dinner and boy, did it leave a delicious mark on me. The fish was firm and tasty and somehow the fish hadn't disintegrated into the sauce. It was so good, that I eventually managed to persuade them to tell me the recipe and, over the years, I've made it in this way. I add more garlic and a hint of Cayenne pepper to give it that intriguing and subtle kick.
I often read in French cookbooks that the best way to serve monkfish is either roasted or grilled. However, served as this popular classic French monkfish stew, you’ll discover just how a simple fish dish can be taken to another level.
Lotte à L'Américaine or Lotte à L'Armoricaine?
Later, I discovered this monkfish dish on some Parisian restaurant menus as Lotte à l’Américaine. This was not a mistake. In both French gourmet dictionaries, Larousse Gastronomique and Alexandre Dumas' Dictionary of Cuisine, it is also called Lotte à L'Américaine.
Both names refer to the SAME dish, although the Breton Armoricaine version adds a touch of crème fraîche at the end of cooking.
Let me tell you the story of the two names, although it's a bit rough around the edges and can't find any more on the subject.
The sauce à l’Armoricaine is a traditional French recipe from coastal Brittany where it is most commonly prepared with shellfish, or used to flavour firm white-fleshed fish such as La Lotte or Monkfish– otherwise known as poor man’s lobster.
The story dates back to the end of the 19th century when it was created by French chef Pierre Fraisse, originally from Sète who had returned to Paris from working in the USA.
A group of clients arrived in his restaurant, Peter's, and he realised all he had was tomorrow's lobster: so he rustled up a lobster dish in a tomato sauce, reminiscent of his native South with Breton overtones. When prompted for the name of the recipe, he called it Lobster - with an American Sauce.
Monkfish Stew: No Small Bones
Monkfish, or la lotte in French, is one of the most popular fish in France. It's normally presented on our fish stalls without the ugly head - I've rarely seen it here hence I have no photos but if you look it up, you'll see it's a specimen that would be the bad guy in a film like Nemo! Hence why it's also known as “sea-devil” (diable de mer) or "frog-fish" (crapaud).
How many times have you been served fish and you're trying to filter out the bones in your mouth while juggling polite chit-chat at the table?
Once the large central bone is removed, there are NO OTHER BONES in sight - making it perfect to serve for special occasions.
Does Monkfish Taste Like Lobster?
The monkfish taste is also around its texture. All the monkfish meat is in the tail (queue de lotte) and I say 'meat' as it's a firm, 'meaty' fish. Also referred to as "Poor Man's Lobster", monkfish does indeed taste like lobster, as it has quite a sweet taste to it.
Moreover, monkfish is cheaper than lobster and to top it, there's no need to crush claws or wear bibs at the table!
Monkfish - Perfect for Cooking
My daughter, Julie, says it outright. She just doesn't like fish, especially white fish and yet will eat monkfish - only if done this way with its deliciously thick tomato sauce. What's more, it's healthy too.
Monkfish is perfect to cook in a stew as it doesn't break up during cooking - as long as you follow the instructions below. The secret is to remove the fish after initially browning it on all sides. Take it off the heat and keep aside while making the sauce.
Add the fish back in to the pot 10 minutes before the end of cooking. That way the fish is beautifully cooked. As fish is quite expensive, I like to respect it: overcooking will just turn the fish medallions into bullets, so please don't leave the fish to cook all during the recipe.
Do I Need to Make Fish Stock?
I used to make a fish stock for this recipe but over time I have become rather lazy and honestly don't see a difference in flavour with this version.
If you really want to make your own fish stock, ask your fishmonger for the skin and bone to be packaged separately to make your own fish stock (see note below).
Fish Stock Tip: as you’re leaving the fish stock to cool, tell anyone lurking around the kitchen what it is: the first time I made this as a student, my Dad poured my precious hard-worked fish stock down the sink thinking it was dirty water! Another reason why I don't bother today!
Jill
How To Serve French Monkfish Stew
Whether dishing this up for family or for a dinner party, I love to serve this directly from the cooking pot at the table.
Serve with fluffy rice and sautéed green beans with garlic.
For stress-free entertaining, I prepare the green beans (haricots vert) in advance until just cooked, then set aside until ready to serve. At the last minute, I sauté them in olive oil with finely chopped garlic and fresh parsley.
This dish is also perfect for serving outdoors. Serve with a chilled rosé and plenty of laughter with lively conversation.
More Fish Recipes with Tomato
Looking for another stew with seafood or just fish dishes, Mediterranean style?
For more easy dishes that we make 'en famille',
see our family's favourite Classic French dishes.
French Monkfish Stew (Lotte à l'Armoricaine)
Ingredients
- 2 kg (5lb) Large monkfish tail fillets (Mahi-Mahi or other meaty white fish)
- 4 tablespoon plain flour
- 50 g (2oz) butter (unsalted)
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoon Cognac (if no Cognac, use Whisky)
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 can (400g) peeled tomatoes (good quality Italian)
- 3 tablespoon tomato purée (concentrate)
- 400 ml (14 floz) white wine
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 branch fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- salt/pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon crème fraîche (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the monkfish tail fillets into large medallion chunks. Coat the fish lightly in the flour on a large plate.Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy-based crockpot (dutch oven) and once slightly bubbling, add the fish. Lightly brown on all sides then add the Cognac.Take the pan off the heat and flambé off the alcohol (consequently if you’re worried about doing this, just add it into the pan and boil it off).
- Using a large spoon, place the fish medallions aside on a plate along with their juices. Meanwhile, in the same pan, gently fry the onion & garlic back on the heat in a little olive oil until translucent, then add the tomato, purée, wine, cayenne, bay leaves, thyme and pour in the juices from the removed fish. Bring to a boil then leave to simmer and reduce (uncovered) for about 30 minutes.
- Return the fish to the pot and heat through for just a further 10 minutes but be careful not to cook for much longer, otherwise the fish will turn into bullets! Add the fresh parsley and a few turns of the salt and pepper mills to taste and, if using, stir in the crème fraîche.
Video
Notes
Although authentic with monkfish, other meaty fish such as mahi-mahi can be used. *I used to make this with fish stock but now just drain the juices from the removed fish. For purists who prefer with homemade fish stock, here's an express recipe: Put the skin and fish bone in a large pan with a carrot, onion, fennel bulb, 2 bay leaves, sprig of thyme, 5 peppercorns and add just enough water to cover. Boil, remove any scum, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and cool. Wine Matches: a fruity and sunny ample white such as Crozes Hermitage, Meursault, Savennières or Alsace Riesling; or a rosé such as Bandol, Côtes de Provence; or a red Sancerre. Nutritional Information: 488 Calories per serving; 64g protein, 13g lipids.
This recipe was originally published on 19 July 2016. Now updated to include a printable recipe card, a video and more about the history of this French dish.
Lynn
We’re vacationing in France now and saw monkfish at our local poissonnerie and couldn’t resist. Didn’t have canned tomato so I used Roma tomato from the market. No cognac or Cayenne either but plenty of good wine haha! I also threw in some sausage from the market for added flavours. It was so delicious! The two of us also finished 1kg of monkfish with some sourdough bread and grilled asparagus for dinner. Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe.
Jill Colonna
How wonderful to cook this on vacation here, Lynn. So glad you enjoyed the monkfish and thank you so much for taking the time to review. I do hope you make this again with all the ingredients in the recipe, but like how you tried to replace these flavours with sausage. Now that I know you like the pairing, have you tried this chorizo risotto? It's fabulous with seared scallops, prawns or fish too. Enjoy your trip and asparagus season too! Jill x
Lynn
I’ll give it a try!
Jill Colonna
Great to hear, Lynn. Let me know how you like it!
Hilary Harwell
This was delicious! I made my own shrimp stock and added a cup of that to the wine, and zested a lemon in the pot right before serving! Amazing!
Jill Colonna
Oh yum! Love your touch of shrimp stock and lemon, Hilary. Thanks so much for taking the time to review.
Fidelma Ormsby
Made this wonderful dish for two of us, WOW
love love this dish Jill. Between the two us we ate almost 1 kg of monkfish 🙂
Will make again for sure
Jill Colonna
Wow - that's a 'lotte' of fish for 2 (get it? sorry couldn't resist). So happy you like this recipe, Fidelma.
Gertrude
Superb recipe after a quick youtube find 🙂 .
I definitely will be using more recipes when I host!
Jill Colonna
That's wonderful to hear. Thanks so much for your kind words, Gertrude. Happy you like this.
Nina Sinclair
Perfect for a mother's day lunch. Thank you ?
Jill Colonna
Thanks, Nina. I hope your family give it 5 stars 🙂 Thanks for your support.
Patricia Dixon
This was truly delicious and easy...didn't have monkfish but used mahi mahi instead...have never flambéed before so just let it boil off a bit, cut the recipe down for two since I only had the one piece of fish but it was still wonderful...would for sure make this again...c'était merveilleux!!!
Jill Colonna
Love that you made this with Mahi Mahi, Patricia. Not the kind of fish we can get here so it's wonderful to know it works well for the stew too. Thanks so much for popping in to tell us!
Sandra
Great success at our dinner party - everyone loved it. My new go to recipe
Jill Colonna
So happy you like this, Sandra - thanks so much for popping in!
Devra Long
I don’t have monkfish often,it’s always a treat when we find it!
Made this once before and it was delicious! Time to make it again!!!!
Jill Colonna
Here's to a lotte of opportunities of making this, Devra! Thanks for your message here. Means so much.
Nic Lemon
Fantastic recipe just adore french cuisine
Jill Colonna
Thanks Nic - glad you enjoy it! Have a delicious weekend
Albertina
Delicious and fantastic recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Christina Conte
Looks utterly delicious, Jill! Those big chunks of fish are calling my name! What a bummer that your dad dumped your fish stock! Oh dear! Too many cooks in the kitchen, as they say! haha!
Jill Colonna
Thanks Christina. Exactly on too many cooks - it happened a while ago now but my Dad has never forgotten it. He felt terrible as I think I probably cried big-time since I spent so long on it. That's probably why I don't like preparing fish stock, lol.
Gerry
Hello Jill,
Just wanted to say thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I haven't yet tried with the addition of crème fraîche, today may be the day as I want to try it again, but adding a bit of fresh chili to it. This is a test to satisfy my personal taste, but as written your recipe was truly delicious. Thanks again for sharing.
Jill Colonna
Bonjour Gerry,
So happy to hear you love this too. My eldest daughter doesn’t like fish much but says she’ll eat it this way! Enjoy making this again over the weekend – let me know how your addition of chili goes x
Gerry
Bonjour Jill,
FYI, I liked it with the chilli, of which I’m a big fan, but honestly I prefer the original version you do here. It’s become a firm favourite in my house in Sitges(Spain). I’ve found by adding some more stock to leftovers, I end up with a lovely soup.
Jill Colonna
How lovely of you to come back and tell us after your experiment. Thanks so much – I love that you make a soup out of the leftovers. We’re not so lucky with leftovers in our house! So happy you're enjoying the recipe with us from Spain.
Jerome B
A divine recipe!!!! Tried it for the first time last night - why did I not try it before?!?! :)))
Absolutely stunning!
Only request would be tips and pointers on how to flambé off the alcohol as I struggled to get any flame going..
Jill Colonna
Now that’s wonderful news you tried the recipe.
You’ve made me realise I should have changed the words around to “take off the heat THEN flambé”. I use one of these candle lighters and it subsides naturally after a couple of seconds. If you don’t fancy doing that, there’s nothing wrong with just adding the Cognac to the dish while still on the heat and boiling off the alcohol.
Proxy list
Hi there, I log on to your blog regularly.Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Madonna
Monkfish is just a scary fish to work with, but I have a fishmonger that is delighted to show off his skills and I am delighted to let him. He only has it at certain times of year. I will have to try your recipe. I love the thought of a dollop of crème fraîche.
Jill Colonna
Totally agree on Monkfish being scary but the best part is in the dish. Thanks for popping by – I do hope you try the recipe. Goes down a treat every time!
June
After a long drive from Kent to sit down to this al fresco was just wonderful. Thanks Jill for a memorable meal which was delicious. I love the way you prepare French beans too. Loved the apero too.
Jill Colonna
Thanks Mum – the best part was your company and with your good friends too! x