This hearty fish soup is packed with flavor. An easy seafood stew recipe that can be ready and on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes. The soup is filled with cod fillets, shrimp, mixed vegetables in a rich tomato broth.
This fish soup is a simpler alternative to my favorite Italian-American fish stew dish, Cioppino. It's so easy and quick to make, yet extremely flavorful!
This super easy seafood soup is made from scratch using simple ingredients that many people can find at their local grocers or pantry.
Fish Soup Ingredients:
This seafood soup is made by combining seafood with vegetables in a rich tomato broth. Feel free to customize the ingredients to your own liking and based on availability.
- Fish
- Shrimp or shellfish
- Yellow onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Dry white wine. You can use either Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and unoaked Chardonnay.
- Crushed tomatoes
- Claim juice or homemade seafood stock
- Thyme
Fish: I used cod fillets, but any white fish such as halibut, sea bass, or red snapper would also be fine.
Shellfish: In this recipe I used shrimp. Crab, lobster, clams, scallops, or mussels are great alternatives to shrimp.
A Delicious Fish Soup Base:
The seafood stew recipe begins with basic ingredients used in making a stock; carrots, celery, yellow onion, parsley, and garlic. I let everything simmer along with the other soup ingredients; crushed tomatoes, water, clam juice, white wine, thyme, and saffron.
Now, let's talk about saffron and clam juice. These ingredients are optional but definitely make for the "secret ingredients". They can add depth and flavor to this and other fish and seafood recipes.
CHECK OUT THESE SOUP RECIPES:
- ALBONDIGAS SOUP (CALDO DE ALBÓNDIGAS)
- EASY FISH CHOWDER RECIPE
- BACON LENTIL SOUP (SO HEARTY)
- SAUSAGE GNOCCHI SOUP (CREAMY ITALIAN GOODNESS)
- POTATO LEEK SOUP (NO FLOUR ADDED)
- PEA SOUP – VEGETARIAN!
- CAULIFLOWER SOUP (LOW-CARB)
- GREAT NORTHERN BEAN SOUP (the most favorited soup!)
- PEA SOUP – VEGETARIAN!
- ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP
- POTATO SOUP WITH BACON!
- ITALIAN SAUSAGE KALE SOUP
If you don't have saffron in your pantry, feel free to skip it. Saffron has a very subtle flavor and aroma. It's one of the most important ingredients for dishes like paella and bouillabaisse but isn’t a make-or-break ingredient in this particular recipe. That said, I liked the extra hints of flavor it did bring.
Clam Juice is usually made from the liquid used to steam fresh clams when strained and mixed with salt. It's a must-have pantry staple. You can use it to flavor various sauces, seafood dishes, or in soup bases.
In this recipe, I used Bumble Bee Snow's Clam Juice. If you don't have this product in your pantry then feel free to skip it or make your own seafood stock from shrimp shells. I am going to show you how to make it on the recipe card below.
Crushed Tomatoes are made from fresh tomatoes that are peeled, seeded and crushed then mixed with tomato puree to create a coarser texture than tomato sauce, but smoother than diced tomatoes.
How to Make Fish Soup:
1. Cook the basic ingredients for the soup base for about 10 minutes.
2. Add white wine and cook just until it evaporates.
3. Add the remaining soup ingredients and let them simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Add the fish and shrimp. The cooking process should take about 3 minutes... so quick!
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I'd appreciate it.
Fish Soup
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds white fish, (such as cod, halibut, red snapper, or sea bass), cut into 2-inch pieces
- 15 pieces of medium-size shrimp
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup diced celery
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ cup lightly packed chopped parsley
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 14 oz crushed tomatoes , (unsalted and unseasoned)
- 2 cups water
- 8 oz clam juice, *or homemade seafood stock, see notes below*
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt, (add more according to your liking)
- (optional) ¼ tsp crumbled saffron threads
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Saute the onion, celery, and carrots for about 8 minutes.
- Add garlic, and keep stirring for about 1 minute.
- Add parsley, and keep stirring for about 2 minutes.
- Add white wine into the pot; cook until it almost evaporates.
- Stir in the clam juice, water, crushed tomatoes, saffron, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until the soup reaches your desired consistency and taste. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Add fish, then shrimp, and cook for about 3 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Remove from the heat. Serve with hot sauce and enjoy!
Jen
I’ve never had fish soup but that sounds delicious! I love seafood so I’d probably like this.
Rog Willis
I have always wanted to try a fish soup! This sounds so delicious and easy to make!
Amber Myers
This is perfect for those who love seafood! I wish I did because this looks delicious.
Tasheena
This soup looks really flavorful. Looking forward to making this.
Robin Rue
I have never had fish soup before. It sounds like a tasty meal idea.
TaraMetBlog
I've never tried making fish soup so thank you for the recipe! Looks very yummy!
Liz
Omg, these photos are unbelievable! I have to try this before quarantine is over.
Bohemian Babushka
That sounds and looks divino! Bet it's delicious too. Hoping BB can make it taste 1/2 as good as yours seems to be. But of course, this got pinned.
Chef Dennis
This hearty fish soup looks really scrumptious! I can't wait to have a bowl of this. My wife will surely be delighted to taste this, too!
Paula Schuck
Oh my gosh those pictures! This soup looks amazing and so fresh! I’d love to make this. Pinning it immediately.
Lynndee
Oh, yum! We love seafood and that would be the perfect dinner today because it's raining.
Rena
I've seen this at a few restaurants and have always been curious. This looks amazing and something that even I could easily make.
Jessica Formicola
We made this fish soup for dinner last night and it was incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Heather
This soup is so good! Our family really enjoyed it!
Kathy
I've never tried any kind of fish soup before. This sure does look delicious too. I'll have to give it a try soon.
Kita Bryant
I have never had fish soup before. This actually looks like a great recipe!
Catalina
Love how hearty and delicious this soup looks! The best!
Lizzie Lau
I love making fish soup, and this looks like a great recipe. I'm pinning this one for later.
Swathi
This fish soup looks delicious and flavorful I need make it as it has been long time I made a fish soup.
Shannon Gurnee
I've never made shrimp soup before, but it looks like a pretty recipe. I would love to try this sometime.
Rose Ann Sales
I love seafoods so much. This looks so so delicious! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe. I will definitely try this.
Ana
The fish soup looks incredibly delicious & healthy! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
Marysa
This sounds like a great soup, and I love how easy it is to make. This would be a good crowd-pleaser.
Kate
This is my number one go-to fish soup. I’ve made it probably 10 times and my family adores it! I usually add extras like potatoes and corn but by itself it’s really already perfection. Don’t skip the saffron!!
Rika
Hi Kate,
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback! I am glad that you and your family adore this fish soup recipe! I agree, a small pinch of safron will definitely transform this soup to the next level.
Best,
Rika
Danny
Just kinda wondering why so many 5 star ratings from people who WANT to make it but have not made this.
Rika
Hi Danny,
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. It looks like readers get excited from the website, then usually review and pin afterwards via Pinterest. I agree with you, I wish they could come back here and review the recipe card as well.
You can read their honest and useful feedback and pictures on this Pinterest pin https://www.pinterest.com/pin/60446819988166707/
Please let me know if you still have any other questions.
Best,
Rika