Arroz de marisco

Allergens at a glance

• UsuallyCrustaceansPrawns, and often crab, lobster or langoustines.
• UsuallyMolluscsClams and mussels, sometimes squid or cockles.
• OftenFishMany kitchens cook the rice in fish stock.
• OftenSulphitesWhite wine in the base; prawns are often treated with sulphites.
• SometimesCelerySome stocks and stock cubes contain celery.

Usually in the standard recipe. Often in many versions. Sometimes in some kitchens, or a cross-contact risk.

Diets

• Pescatarian; not vegetarian.
• Usually gluten-free and dairy-free; check any stock cubes.
• Often contains white wine; ask if you avoid alcohol.

Recipes change from kitchen to kitchen. If you have an allergy, confirm every ingredient with the restaurant before you order.

What is arroz de marisco?

Arroz de marisco is a Portuguese seafood rice cooked in a tomato-based broth until it's loose and soupy, then loaded with prawns (shrimp), clams, mussels and often crab or lobster. Unlike a Spanish paella, it's wet enough to eat with a spoon. It's a favourite for long seafood lunches all along the coast and is usually shared from the pot.

What's in it

• Base: onion, garlic, olive oil, tomato, bay and white wine, sometimes with peppers and piri-piri chilli.
• Stock: made from the prawn shells and heads, or a fish or shellfish stock.
• Rice: a medium-grain rice such as Carolino, cooked in plenty of stock.
• Seafood: prawns, clams, mussels, and in more expensive versions crab, lobster or langoustine. Some add squid or cockles.
• To finish: lots of chopped fresh coriander (cilantro).

Allergens and diets

Assume crustaceans and molluscs. Prawns are almost always in it, and clams and mussels are standard. The stock is often made from crustacean shells, so the rice itself carries the allergen even if you pick out the seafood. Marisco means shellfish in general, covering both groups.

Fish is "often", because many kitchens use fish stock or add a little white fish. White wine is common in the base, and frozen prawns are often treated with sulphites to stop them darkening. Some stocks or stock cubes contain celery.

There's no flour or dairy in the usual recipe, so it's often gluten-free and dairy-free, but ask about stock cubes. It's pescatarian and contains no pork in the standard recipe.

On the menu

Look for arroz de marisco in seafood restaurants (marisqueiras) and coastal tascas. It's often priced per person with a minimum of two, and served in a large pan or pot at the table. Related dishes: arroz de tamboril (monkfish rice), arroz de polvo (octopus rice), arroz de lingueirão (razor clam rice) and arroz de lagosta (lobster rice). Expect around 30 minutes, since it's cooked to order.

Last checked 1 November 2026. Spotted something wrong? Email support@inventum.com.au.