Quick and easy fish soup with warm Eastern Mediterranean spices, loads of fresh herbs, and a big splash of lemon juice. The perfect one-pot meal for any night of the week.
I have a thing for seafood in a warm, aromatic broth. Tasty, lean, and satisfying, it’s the kind of warm-your-belly meal that won’t leave you feeling heavy.
A few favorites of mine that fall under this category include: steamed clams, salmon soup with potatoes (so velvety and hearty), and Sicilian fish stew with garlic and capers. See, when you cook the Mediterranean way, you’re bound to find many ways to enjoy fish soup—the seasoning possibilities are endless.
This fish soup recipe is easy to make and loaded with warm Eastern Mediterranean spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric, along with a big finish of fresh herbs and lemon juice. Do not skip the lemon juice; it makes all the difference, adding a bit of zing to balance all the warm flavors. You’ll want to serve it with some good bread to mop up the delicious, extra herby broth! It comes together quickly, so it’s a great weeknight win!
How to Make Fish Soup?
For those of us who are more visual, here is the step-by-step for how to make fish soup (the print-friendly recipe with the ingredient list is just below):
- Cut and season the fish. You’re going to start by making a spice mixture of coriander, cumin, red pepper flakes (I used Aleppo pepper), turmeric, and paprika. Cut up the fish fillets into small chunks of equal size (about 1 to 1 1/2 inch cubes), then give them a good toss with kosher salt, black pepper, and a couple teaspoons of your beautiful spice mixture. Set in the fridge for now.
- Make the broth. Grab a large pot or Dutch oven to make your tasty, aromatic broth. Start by cooking some chopped red onion, red bell pepper, celery, and garlic in a bit of extra virgin olive oil until fragrant. Season with kosher salt and the rest of the spice mixture you used for the fish. Add canned whole tomatoes with their juices, white wine, and low-sodium vegetable stock, seafood stock (or chicken stock if that’s what you have). Let the broth simmer for a good 20 minutes or so.
- Add the fish. When the broth is ready, slide the fish in and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with your fork (remember that fish cooks quickly, and it will continue to cook some in the hot broth even after you remove it from the heat).
- Finish with the fresh herbs and citrus. Stir in chopped fresh parsley and cilantro (about 1 cup each) and chopped green onions, both white and green parts. Finish with a splash of lemon juice.
What’s the Best Fish to Use?
- A moderately firm fish fillet such as halibut, cod, sea bass, or even red snapper will work in fish stew.
- I like to use a combination of fish; this time it was sea bass and red snapper (both were filleted, and the skins were removed).
- You can also use shellfish like shrimp or bits of lobster tail in this recipe, added in with the fish toward the end of cooking time.
- Over the years, readers have made this soup and shared that it’s just as delicious made with salmon, grouper, pollock, flounder, and perch. The flavors really work with whatever you have on hand! I would consider that another weeknight dinner win!
Can You Put Frozen Fish in Fish Soup?
Yes! You can add frozen fish directly to the soup. No need to thaw it first.
If quality fresh fish isn’t available, or you simply forgot to take your fish out of the freezer, you can add frozen skinless fish directly into the soup. Just let the fish cook in the soup for an additional 6 to 8 minutes.
What to Serve with Fish Soup
Remember that fish soup is best served right away so the fish does not overcook in the hot broth.
I love to serve it with extra lemon wedges on the side (more citrus is never a bad idea when it comes to fish) and a good loaf of rustic, crusty bread to sop up all the brothy goodness!
Or, if you like, you can serve this soup over a bed of quick-cooked couscous or your favorite grain. Add a big salad like this 5-Minute Lemon Parmesan Salad or this Mediterranean three-bean salad to start.
How to Store Leftover Soup
If you have any fish soup left, allow it to cool completely, then store it in the fridge in a tight-lid glass container for 2 to 3 days.
To warm leftovers, I like to remove the fish to cook the broth over medium heat, then add the fish in very briefly to warm through. I’ve found this is the best way to avoid overcooking the fish. The less time it spends cooking, the better.
More Fish Soup Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper flakes or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 pounds moderately firm fish fillet, I used a combination of sea bass and red snapper, cut into chunks (1 1/2 -inch pieces)
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 28- ounce can whole tomatoes
- ½ cup white wine
- 4 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock, preferably low-sodium
- 1 cup packed chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup packed chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 green onions chopped (both white and green parts)
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Combine the spices. In a small bowl, mix coriander, cumin, Aleppo pepper, turmeric, and paprika.
- Season the fish. Sprinkle a good pinch of kosher salt, black pepper, and 2 to 3 teaspoons of the spice mixture over the fish; toss to coat.
- Cook the vegetables. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic. Cook, tossing regularly, for 5 minutes or until the vegetables soften. Season with a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Add the remainder of the spice mixture.
- Add the liquids. Add the tomatoes, white wine, and broth. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot partway and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the fish. Add the fish and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the fish is cooked through (do not over-cook the fish, remember it will continue to cook in the hot broth even after you remove it from the heat).
- Finish and serve. Stir in the parsley, cilantro, and green onions. Finish with lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Which kind of fish fillet to use? A moderately firm fish fillet is good to use here. As mentioned in the recipe, I used a combination of sea bass and red snapper. Halibut and cod are also great options.
- Leftovers. Fish soup can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. To warm through, I like to remove the fish to first warm the broth well, then add in the fish very briefly so it doesn’t overcook.
- Shop this recipe: Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients, including the olive oil and spices used in this recipe.
Nutrition
Try our all-natural Sumac!
This tangy, smokey, slightly sour spice is just what you need to give your recipe extra zing.
Tried this tonight with cod and it was delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect!
Wonderful, Marie! Thank you!!
Delicious! Definitely 5 stars. I added about 30 pcs. of raw, peeled shrimp at the end when I added the fish. I used cod that I got from the supermarket. The mix of spices is great. The prep time took me about 40 minutes. I wish I could get all of the chopping and mixing done in 10 minutes. It was well worth the time!!
Thank you so much, Dave!
Made last night and it was so fresh, delicate and delicious! Oddly enough, I actually followed the recipe to a T, adding only about 8 oz frozen spinach at the end so I could say the meal was COMPLETE w a green veg. In the cold winter, especially at such a difficult period for us all individually and collectively, this recipe was a true treat: easy, fast, rewarding, healing. Thanks! (PS. Given your wise counsel about not overcooking the fish, do you have advice about how to safely freeze leftovers? Perhaps separating out fish in a separate baggie, so that the broth can heat up longer first?)
Hi, Jane! I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup! Here are my instructions regarding leftovers: allow soup to cool completely then store it in the fridge in a tight-lid glass container for 2 to 3 days. To warm leftovers through, I like to remove the fish to cook the broth over medium heat, then add the fish in very briefly to warm through (it’s hard to avoid overcooking the fish at this point, but the less time it spends cooking, the better).
This looks super unique and light! Can’t wait to try this one.
Enjoy!
Fish soups and stews are so good for having that balance of comfort food factor without being too heavy. I love the flavors in this soup.
I agree! So glad you enjoyed it, Caroline!
This soup had so much flavor, it was incredible. I love how easy this recipe was!
Thanks so much, Lily!
I love tomato based fish soups. The herbs and spices in this recipe make it a really wonderful and warming soup. The whole family loved it.
Awesome! Thanks, Annissa!
I think my mom would love to come over and find this soup on the table waiting for her. She loves soup and really loves seafood but doesn’t cook anymore.
This sounds like it would be a great one for her to try!!
This fish soup was so good I made it for lunch 2 days in a row!
Wonderful! Thanks, Jo!
This soup is so tasty! It’s a great way to add more healthy fish to our diets!
Thanks, Wilhelmina!
This is a stunning recipe! It was easier than I thought to make, and I had enough leftover the next day! Delish – and nutritious, too!
So glad you enjoyed it, Jenn!
Fish soup is always something I enjoy when eating out but this recipe makes it so easy to now eat at home!
Hope you enjoy it, Gina!
Same ingredients i use except for cilantro (blech!) Zand tomatoes. I prefer a chowder! Suzy, you’re the best😁
Thanks, Barnett!
Dear Suzy,
I so love your recipes and appreciate the nutritional info, but if you leave out data for sodium and sugars, I can’t calculate weight watchers points. Is this something you could contemplate? So many of your recipes are good candidates for those of us who need to lose weight.
Gratefully,Diana
Hi Diana, thank you for sharing. I’ll check on this and see if we can do it via the program we currently use. With sodium numbers, it really will vary for individual taste and the kind of salt and amount used, so it is tricky. In all, the nutrition information provided here is a best estimate still
I’m giving this recipe 5 stars, not because I’ve just made it, but because it’s almost exactly the same as one of my favorite recipes for a seafood stew – cioppino. The only differences are in the seasonings and the seafood contents. My recipe includes the fish, as well as the addition of a can of baby clams and a good amount of shrimps. No matter what you call it, this is an absolutely delicious feast, served with crusty Italian bread to soak up all the fabulous broth. Next time I make it, I’ll use your selection of herbs and spices.
Awesome! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
I had some cod needing to be used and this recipe came at the right time! Love all the spices and fresh herbs.
Perfect! Hope you enjoy it, Cindy!