The Best Creamy Fish Soup (Paleo, AIP, Whole30)

This creamy fish soup exceeded my expectations. I don't cook a ton of seafood but this is a recipe I will be making regularly- it's a new favorite for me. It tastes pretty similar to clam chowder. Fish soup might not necessarily sound appealing but it is absolutely delicious and so easy to make. It's perfect for a quick weeknight meal during those cold weather months.

What is Fish Soup?

Fish soup comes in a lot of different varieties. It usually consists of a broth and various types of fish and vegetables. Sometimes the soup is tomato-based, sometimes it's spicy, and sometimes it's creamy.

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Ingredients Needed for Creamy Fish Soup

• Olive Oil- Avocado oil would work well too.
• Onion-  yellow onion or white onion is fine.
• Celery
• Garlic Cloves
• White Fish Filets- Pretty much any firm white fish will work for this.  I ended up using a mix of flounder and orange roughy and it worked beautifully.
• Clam Juice-  Don't let this one scare you away. It's actually pretty easy to find and it adds the most wonderful flavor to the soup. I found it next to the canned tuna at Kroger. It can also be found on ShopAIP or Amazon. I don't do a ton of seafood cooking, so this was my first time using it- I'll definitely be using it again. If you can't find it, see below for substitution options.
• Broth- You can use seafood stock, chicken broth, or vegetable broth. I just went with a chicken broth this time.
• Cauliflower Florets- Use fresh rather than frozen if possible.
• White Sweet Potato-  If you can't find white sweet potatoes, you can always sub other starchy vegetables like malanga blanca, yucca root, or carrots. You could also add a little extra cauliflower. If you're not doing AIP or you've reintroduced potatoes, you could just use regular potatoes. 
• Coconut Milk- But sure to use one without guar gum for AIP compliance. I like this one. It's not quite as thick as full-fat coconut milk but I use it in most of my cooking and baking. 
• Dried Dill Weed- Dill pairs well with fish and adds just the right element of flavor to the soup.
• Garlic Powder- Even though we use fresh garlic in this recipe, I felt just a tad more was needed so I added the garlic powder.
• Sea Salt- Basically any sea salt is fine.

How to Make Creamy Fish Soup

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and celery and saute for 1-2 minutes tossing regularly. Add the garlic and saute 1 minute more or until the vegetables soften. Watch the garlic closely and continue stirring to avoid burning it.
2. Add the chicken broth and clam juice, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium. Add in the cauliflower and white sweet potatoes. Partially cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Add the fish and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.
4. Add the coconut milk, garlic powder, dill weed, and salt. Simmer for 1-2 minutes more.
5. Remove from heat and serve. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley if desired and serve.

What Kind of Fish Should I Use for Fish Soup?

Pretty much any white fish will work for this soup- Sea Bass, Flounder, Cod, and Orange Roughy, are all good options. I used a combination of flounder and orange roughy.

I Can't Find Clam Juice. What Else Can I use?

• If you can't find clam juice, a little bit of fish sauce would impart a fishy flavor on the soup. I haven't tested this yet but I think this would be a reasonable substitution. It's pretty salty, so add it gradually. Add 1/2 tablespoon at a time until you reach a  flavor you're happy with. You may want to make up the extra liquid (from not using the 8 oz of clam juice) by adding a little more broth. Also, keep in mind that you may need to use less salt to accommodate the saltiness of the fish sauce.
• Another option would be fish stock if you can find it. 
• If these options don't work, you could just replace the 8 oz of clam juice with 8 oz of broth. 

*This being said, I highly recommend clam juice if you have access to it! It creates the most amazing flavor.

Can You Freeze Fish Soup?

Yes, this will freeze well and keep for up to 6 months in the freezer. Just store it in an airtight freezer-safe container. 

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Conclusion:

I hope you love this soup. If you tried it, leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @foodcourage for the latest AIP/Paleo recipes, autoimmune nutrition info, and Food Courage happenings!

Creamy Fish Soup Recipe (Paleo, AIP, Whole30)

Arika | FoodCourage

This creamy fish soup is so delicious and easy. It's perfect for a quick weeknight meal and truly satisfies.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 421 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tbsp olive oil or oil of choice
• 1 cup onion, diced about half an onion
• 1 cup celery, diced 3-4 medium stalks
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz bottle of clam juice
• 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable or seafood stock)
• 2 cups cauliflower florets, diced
• 2 cups white sweet potato, peeled and chopped into 1/2" cubes about 1 medium sweet potato, 400g
• 1 1/2 pounds firm white fish filets (like flounder, orange rough, sea bass, or cod)
• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried dill weed
• 2 tsp sea salt
• flat-leaf Italian parsley (optional garnish)

Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and celery and saute for 1-2 minutes tossing regularly. Add the garlic and saute 1 minute more or until the vegetables soften. Watch the garlic closely and continue stirring to avoid burning it.
• Add the chicken broth and clam juice, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium. Add in the cauliflower and white sweet potatoes. Partially cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Add the fish and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.
• Add the coconut milk, garlic powder, dill weed, and salt. Simmer for 1-2 minutes more.
• Remove from heat and serve. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley if desired and serve.

Notes

*Pretty much any white fish will work for this soup. I used a combination of flounder and orange roughy. 

*Clam juice can be found in the canned tuna aisle at most grocery stores or ShopAIP, Amazon

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Fish Soup Recipe (Paleo, AIP, Whole30)

Serving Size

 

2 cups

Amount per Serving

Calories

421

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

21

g

32

%

Saturated Fat

 

12

g

75

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

5

g

Cholesterol

 

77

mg

26

%

Sodium

 

2024

mg

88

%

Potassium

 

1165

mg

33

%

Carbohydrates

 

32

g

11

%

Fiber

 

4

g

17

%

Sugar

 

8

g

9

%

Protein

 

30

g

60

%

Vitamin A

 

9697

IU

194

%

Vitamin C

 

34

mg

41

%

Calcium

 

117

mg

12

%

Iron

 

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword fish soup, fish stew, seafood chowder

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