This richly flavored, but simple, fisherman's soup recipe is filled with tilapia (or other white fish), shrimp and a spicy tomato broth. Considering the depth of flavor, it is surprisingly healthy and low-fat. 238 calories and 1 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
This fisherman's soup recipe brings back some very good memories. When I was about 11 years old, my dad and I loaded up the car, Canadian singer Anne Murray's silky voice cued up in the cassette player (I'm really dating myself here, aren't I?), and headed off to the interior of British Columbia to catch some fish.
We spent most days put-putting along in a rented speed boat, cruising the lakes as we set our hooks with live bait or shiny spinners (I always called dibs on the pink one). As hard as my dad tried to teach me the nuances of fishing, I insisted on sticking to my rather unorthodox method of attracting the iridescent lake trout.
Pretty darn proud of my catch.
The funny thing was that it worked. On every loop around the lake, I caught one or two fish while my dad's hook remained virtually untouched.
You want to know the secret, don't you? This is it. Step one: Stand at the stern of the boat, hands cupped around your mouth. Step two: As loudly as you can, using your best 11-year old girl voice, yell, "Here fishy, fishy, fishy" over and over again. Step three: Hold onto your fishing rod...tightly. You call and they will come.
I'm sure the other fisherman absolutely loved us. "Gosh darn city folks!"
At the end of the day, we had some good-looking trout on our hands and limited pantry supplies. The order of the day was simply prepared fish, allowing the freshness to shine through. This fisherman's soup recipe reminds me of those meals. The simplicity of the ingredient list complements the flavor of the tilapia and shrimp beautifully.
The fisherman's soup recipe:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.
Add the onion, garlic, red bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers are tender, 7 to 8 minutes.
Add the oregano and chile flakes, and cook for 1 minute. Add the parsley and white wine, and cook for 1 additional minute. Add the tomatoes and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
Add the tilapia pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fish is almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.
Add the shrimp and continue to simmer until the shrimp is barely cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in capers and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
Other tilapia, or other white fish, recipes:
Baked Tilapia with Arugula Walnut Pesto & Toasted Breadcrumbs
Fish Tacos with Creamy Green Chile & Cilantro Sauce
Printable Recipe
Fisherman’s Soup Recipe with Tilapia, Shrimp, Tomatoes & Capers
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded & diced
- 1 large carrot diced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon dried crushed chile flakes
- ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 28 ounce can petite diced tomatoes (juices included)
- ¾ cup vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¼ pounds firm white fish such as tilapia, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ pound medium shrimp shelled
- 2 tablespoon capers
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.Add the onion, garlic, red bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers are tender, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Add the oregano and chile flakes, and cook for 1 minute. Add the parsley and white wine, and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Add the tomatoes and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
- Add the tilapia pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fish is almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.
- Add the shrimp and continue to simmer until the shrimp is barely cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in capers and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Dara @how_to_eat
This looks fantastic and perfect for a rainy day like today! Could I sub another fish for the shrimp? Any suggestions?
Aggie
This soup looks perfect. I could honestly only imagine how good it smells. I love your fishing trip story, made me laugh! What a cute fisherman you were!
Lora @cakeduchess
This soup would be perfect on this blustery evening from the hurricane. It reminds me of a soup my mother-in-law makes. Love the flavors and the photo of you fishing:)so sweet.
Rachel
I hardly eat fish at home but this looks too good not to make! Yum!
Pretend Chef
That picture of you... squee! So cute! The flavors in this sound amazing. Can't wait to give this a try.
Christina Womack
I am so making this 🙂
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
A lovely, lovely soup with beautiful Mediterranean flavors. Love it!
Bev @ Bev Cooks
LOOOOOOOVE fisherman's souuuuup.
And I love even more that picture of you, omg.
Jeanette
I love this Dara - nice and light but oh so good! What a cute picture too!
Kristen
Hahaha - oh I loved this!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
Dara, just look how CUTE you were! (And still are.) Love seeing the old photos. 🙂
This reminds me Cioppino which is one of my most favorite things in the whole wide world. We will be eating this over the weekend....
Kalyn
This sounds so healthy and flavorful! And love seeing your younger self too!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Kalyn. I was really pleased with how this soup turned out.
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
Great story and what a catch! I remember going fishing with my uncle as a kid, I'll never forget those times. That looks like a good soup for the cold weather...if wer'e ever gonna get any here??
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Gerry! I'd be happy to send you some of our cold weather. It was 26 degrees F here this morning!
Kathy
Delicious! Did not have any vegetable broth, so I made a shrimpy broth by boiling the shells after I cleaned the shrimp. I also used cod because there was no fresh tilapia.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Kathy - wow, you are speedy! As shrimp broth is a great way to add even more flavor. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Lori @ RecipeGirl
Dara- this is an awesome recipe. So much good stuff all in one pot. And how cute are you with the fish?!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
LOL. Thanks, Lori. It was a fun trip with my dad, that's for certain.
Emma
This looks delicious, and perfect for a cold rainy week in Pittsburgh this week! My boyfriend has a shrimp allergy, should I just sub in extra tilapia, or can I replace it with something else? Thanks!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Emma - yes, just leave out the shrimp. You could substitute with more tilapia, or add in a different type of white fish, such as mahi mahi or cod.
Emma
Made this last night and it was delicious! Thanks so much!
Coleen
I did not have any shrimp on hand so I replaced it with potatoes believe it or not and it was excellent. Also I didn't have any flat parsley so I put in about half the quantity of cilantro
Maria
This soup is perfect for the cold weather we are having!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
And what a shock that cold weather was! I'm eating soup almost every day.
Stephanie
Oh this looks fabulous! Absolutely going on the menu next week. My only wish is that I had better access to fresher fish. Unfortunately southern Manitoba does not lend itself well to fresh fish access 😛
Stephanie
Oh, and I am pretty sure the style you are sporting in the picture dates you more than the Anne Murray reference 🙂 Also, I completely rocked that coat too at some point in my childhood 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
LOL. So true! It was not a good look.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hear you, Stephanie. Being in land-locked Utah leaves me yearning for the fresh fish of B.C. I hope you enjoy the soup.
SeattleDee
Delicious. Fish soup tops my list of healthy/tasty soups; add a touch of fennel or Pernod for an extra flavor boost.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Pernod, fennel or even Vermouth would be a fantastic addition!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
I love fish soups of all kinds and this is one of my favorite versions!! It reminds me of my years in Boston and my family in San Francisco. Thanks for sharing.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I'm glad it brought back some good memories for you, Liz. SF and Boston are definitely some great seafood cities!