Slow-Simmered Codfish Rice with Saffron

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-06-03

A comforting Spanish rice dish featuring tender cod simmered with saffron and aromatic vegetables, creating a rich and flavorful one-pot meal. This Spanish recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs cod fillets, medium onion, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 500g, skin removed and cut into 2-inch pieces cod fillets
• 1, finely chopped medium onion
• 1, diced red bell pepper
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2, grated or finely chopped medium tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups (300g) short-grain rice
• 4 cups (960ml) fish stock or water
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp, soaked in 2 tbsp warm water saffron threads
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped medium onion, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Stir in 2 grated medium tomatoes, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook for 4 minutes until the mixture thickens.
3. Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups short-grain rice and stir to coat the grains in the sofrito mixture. Pour in 4 cups fish stock and the saffron threads soaked in 2 tbsp warm water. Bring to a boil.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, gently nestle 500g cod fillet pieces into the rice, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until rice is tender and cod is cooked through.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley over the top before serving.