This hearty fish soup is packed with flavor. An easy seafood stew recipe that can be ready and on your dinner table in about 30 minutes. The soup is filled with cod fillets, shrimp, and 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 the 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.
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!
Check Out More Delicious Recipes:
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I'd appreciate it.
📖 Recipe
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 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup diced celery
- 1 tablespoon 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 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt, (add more according to your liking)
- (optional) ¼ teaspoon crumbled saffron threads, (soaked in a small amount of hot water for 5 minutes)
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Saute the onion, celery, and carrots for about 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic, and keep stirring for about 1 minute.
- Add the parsley, and keep stirring for about 2 minutes.
- Add the white wine into the pot; cook until it almost evaporates.
- Stir in 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!
Rose Ann Sales says
I love seafoods so much. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
Ana says
The fish soup looks incredibly delicious & healthy! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
Marysa says
This sounds like a great soup, and I love how easy it is to make. This would be a good crowd-pleaser.
Kate says
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 says
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 says
Just kinda wondering why so many 5 star ratings from people who WANT to make it but have not made this.
Rika says
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
Lynn Ellington says
i plan to make this soup. The only addition would be adding chopped fennel and using vermouth in lieu of white wine
Rika says
It sounds like a great plan, Lynn! The fennel will make a nice addition to the soup. Let me know how it goes.
Bill says
It looked beautiful. The safron does wonders. Shrimps U 18 and cod. It was delicious and I’ll make it any time again. 👏👏👏
Rika says
Thanks for trying and sharing your feedback, Bill! I am glad that you liked this fish soup recipe.
Best,
Rika
Faith Gavaldon says
I loved this! I didn't have saffron - maybe I'll get some for next time. I think some chicken bouillon might be a plus in this and the hot sauce will go into it next time. A definite winner!
Rika says
Hi Faith,
Thank you for sharing your feedback! I'm glad you loved the fish soup recipe. Adding saffron could indeed enhance the flavors further, and using chicken bouillon and hot sauce sounds like great ideas for the next time you make it.
Best,
Rika
Miguel says
I made it , added mushrooms and potatoes.
Rika says
Hi Miguel,
Thanks for trying the recipe! I love that you added mushrooms and potatoes—that sounds like a great twist.
Best,
Rika
Eileen says
Great recipe! I used Trader Joe's Mirepoix to save time and added one small can of Snow's clams in juice. Made my own shrimp stock and used it instead of water. My husband loved it!
Rika says
Hi Eileen,
Love the shortcuts and additions—using mirepoix and homemade shrimp stock sounds like a perfect way to boost the flavor! And clams? Great touch. I'm so glad your husband enjoyed it too. Thanks for sharing your tweaks! - Rika -