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Easy Homemade Italian Fish Soup

Name: Easy Homemade Italian Fish Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound cut up assorted fish (eg. shrimp,prawns, cod, haddock, calamari, mussels, clams etc); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2-3 cloves garlic chopped; 1-2 dashes hot pepper flakes (optional); 1/4 cup dry white wine; 3/4 cup tomato puree (passata); 1 1/4 -1 1/2 cups water ((depending on how thick you want it, more soup or stew)); salt to taste* (I added a pinch); 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon basil; 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley; 4 slices thick Italian crust bread (grilled or plain)

ByRosemary November 9, 2021December 17, 2022 December 17, 2022

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Easy Homemade Italian Fish Soup, full of big pieces of all your favorite fish, such as haddock, shrimp, mussels and clams all combined in a perfectly spiced tomato broth. A delicious comfort dish, a little bit stew, a little bit soup!

Do you ever make something and while you are eating it think “Oh Wow this is so good, I have no idea why the heck I don’t make it more often”? Well this is exactly what I said while I was eating this Italian Fish Soup.

I don’t remember my mother-in-law making Fish Soup, so I happened to get this recipe from a sister-in-law. This is her mother’s recipe. It is easy, quick and so full of flavor, your house will smell amazing while this soup is simmering.

Table of Contents

Where did Fish Soup originate?

Apparently it originated from the time when the fishermen would sell their fish and whatever was left over was made into a soup or stew. Every town overlooking the sea, will have its own recipe.

Fish soup in a black pot with a silver ladle.

What are the ingredients?

Assorted Fish
Olive Oil
Garlic
Hot Pepper Flakes – optional
White Wine
Tomato Passata – also known as puree or conserva. It is just pureed tomatoes with nothing added.
Water
Salt – Careful with the salt, fish can be very salty so it is best to add it towards the end of the cooking time.
Spices – oregano, basil
Fresh Italian parsley – chopped
Bread – thick slices of Italian bread – optional

Italians like to eat this Easy Italian Fish Soup with a piece of grilled Italian bread placed at the bottom of a bowl and the soup poured on top. The bread can also be eaten with the soup rather than in it. It’s totally up to you.

How to make fish soup

In a large pot add olive oil, garlic and hot pepper flakes, heat on medium for one minute and then flatten with a fork.

Add the cut up assorted fish, cook one minute. Add the white wine and cook on medium-high for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree, water, oregano, basil, salt to taste and fresh parsley, stir to combine.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer for approximately 30 minutes and until thickened. Serve over grilled crusty Italian bread or with crusty Italian bread.

Tomato, water & spices added to the fish.

FAQS

What is the best fish to use

I used approximately 6 or 7 different types of fish and seafood, including mussels, shrimp, haddock, clams, perch and squid. You can also use your favourites, such clams, monkfish and cuttlefish.

How to store the soup

Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to 2 days.

Can fish soup be frozen?

Yes the soup can be frozen. Store in a freezer safe container it will keep for up to 4-6 months in the freezer.

I recommend adding the salt towards the end of cooking time, as fish can be quite savory in cooking. You can vary the dose of water according to the consistency you want, if you want a thicker soup add less water, and more, if you prefer a thinner and more liquid soup.

If you don’t have time to grill the bread or like me you forget, a nice thick slice of Italian crust bread is delicious also but if you do have some extra time this delicious Easy Focaccia Bread would be perfect.

Or my favourite, just serve the bread on the side for easy dunking and soaking up all that amazing tasty leftover sauce in the bowl. Buon Appetito!

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