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    Home » Recipes » Soup Recipes

    How to make Restaurant-Style Seafood Soup

    Published: Apr 5, 2020 · Modified: Mar 1, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    11.3K shares
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    4.95 from 86 votes
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    Pinterest image for seafood soup

    Have you ever made a seafood soup? If you haven’t now is the perfect time to give it a try. I always like to remind people that recipes are guidelines, if you don’t have everything on hand or you don’t like an ingredient, replace them.

    It’s really that easy and if you enjoy eating what you’ve created in your kitchen you’re going to enjoy spending more time cooking.

    white cup of seafood soup with slices of bread in the background

    We love seafood at our house and sometimes we end up with odds and ends from our meals. Some are cooked and some are raw. The best way to make use of these leftovers and unused portions is to make seafood soup or stew out of them.

    At one time soups were always made from leftovers. It’s the easiest way to use up the ingredients that have been hanging out a little too long in your fridge, freezer and pantry, instead of throwing them out as too many people do.

    You work hard for your money so make use of all the food you buy and create delicious dishes that your family will love!

    If you enjoyed this soup, you’ll also love my San Francisco Cioppino Recipe.

    Table of Contents:

    • What do I need to make seafood soup?
    • *Chef Dennis Tip 
    • What kind of fish can I use in seafood soup?
    • Do I have to use shellfish in seafood soup?
    • Should I cook the vegetables before adding the water to the soup?
    • *Chef Dennis Tip
    • Can I add white wine to my seafood soup?
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Seafood Soup Recipe
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Video
      • Nutrition

    What do I need to make seafood soup?

    ingredients to make recipe

    Let’s gather the ingredients to make our seafood soup recipe. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into everything in its place.

    You’ll see in my bowl of seafood the different ingredients that I had on hand. If you don’t have any seafood leftovers to start with, use new ingredients you enjoy the most or happen to be on sale at your local grocer.

    As I do with meats I save all the scraps of trim that look too good to throw out and save them in the freezer till needed. This goes for leftovers of cooked seafood from dinner at home or the doggy bags we bring home from a night out. 

    Don’t throw out those expensive leftovers, freeze them to make soup.

    *Chef Dennis Tip 

    Save shrimp shells and scraps of fish you can’t eat to make a seafood stock out of for your favorite fish soup, or chowder.

    What kind of fish can I use in seafood soup?

    Any type of fish that you enjoy eating will work in soup. Cut the fish into small pieces if they’re not a flaky fish. Fish like cod will pretty much just break up into flakes as the soup cook so you don’t have to worry about making it too small. Otherwise think in terms of bite-size pieces. 

    Do I have to use shellfish in seafood soup?

    No, you don’t. If you’re allergic to shellfish or simply don’t like certain shellfish, leave them out. Use ingredients you enjoy eating.

    vegetables in a large pot

    Let’s get started making our seafood soup. In a large pot over medium-high heat add the olive oil, celery, onions and carrots. Saute for 3-4 minutes then add the rest of the vegetables except for the tomatoes. Continue to cook the veggies over medium heat for 5 – 10 minutes.

    I use my favorite 6 qt. Copper Core 5-ply All-Clad pot for this soup. It’s classified as a roaster and is a great pan for use in your kitchen! It’s the perfect soup pot and so much more.

    Should I cook the vegetables before adding the water to the soup?

    Letting the vegetables cook before adding water to the pot goes a long way in improving the flavor of the soup. as the vegetables cook, the water steams off and the vegetable’s natural sugars start to break down.

    This process improves the vegetable’s natural flavor of the vegetables while adding a distinct nuttiness to the flavor profile. If you can let the veggies cook over low for 15-20 minutes it will improve the overall flavor of the soup.

    This cannot be accomplished by boiling the vegetables. And that is why it’s important to let the veggies cook before adding the water.

    Large pot with tomatoes and water added to the pot

    After the vegetables have been cooked, add the stock, tomatoes and seasonings to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.

    *Chef Dennis Tip

    I have found that using chicken stock instead of fish stock gives seafood soups a more palatable flavor. Seafood stocks tend to have a softer taste and a more pronounced seafood flavor. Chicken stock adds a sharper flavor while balancing the overall seafood taste, making it milder allowing the seafood to stand out more than just blend in.

    seafood added to large pot of soup

    Add the seafood to the soup pot and continue to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper.

    Can I add white wine to my seafood soup?

    You sure can. Adding a little of your favorite white wine will help enrich the flavor. If you’d like to change up the seasonings to a Thai flavor, think about using coconut milk, lemongrass, and your favorite Thai spices instead of old bay and thyme.

    2 white cups of seafood soup with slices of bread on a wooden cutting board

    Garnish soup with chopped parsley and serve with your favorite crusty bread.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What are the types of Seafood Soups?

    Seafood soups can be broth-based like my seafood soup and sometimes contain tomatoes.
    Chowders are traditionally made with milk or cream, butter, potatoes, salt pork (bacon), onions, celery and sometimes carrots.
    Seafood Stews are chunky soups with less liquid that can be cream-based or broth-based.

    What are the benefits of Seafood Soup?

    Besides being a delicious and good use of leftover seafood, fish contain many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality proteins.

    Does Fish Bone Broth have Collagen?

    Fish Bone Broth is the king of bone broths. It’s rich in iodine, and collagen which supports good gut health.

    More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

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      Spanish Seafood Stew Recipe

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    white cup of seafood soup with slices of bread in the background
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.95 from 86 votes

    Seafood Soup Recipe

    Making restaurant-style seafood soup is easier than you think. Learn how to use your favorite seafood to create a soup your family will love. Making soup is all about using what you have on hand. Read my post to see how to create delicious soups in your home tonight.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 55 minutes mins
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 303kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds fish assorted
    • 2 tbsp olive oil more or less as needed to saute vegetables
    • 1 cup celery diced
    • 1 cup onions diced
    • 1 cup carrots diced
    • 2 cup potatoes diced
    • 1 cup zucchini diced
    • 1 cup corn kernels
    • 2 cups plum tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
    • 2 quarts chicken stock
    • 1 tbsp old bay
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper
    • 1 tbsp fresh thyme fine chop
    • 1 tbsp Italian parsley – chopped garnish
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a large pot over medium-high heat add the olive oil, celery, onions and carrots. Saute for 3-4 minutes then add the rest of the vegetables except for the tomatoes. Continue to cook the veggies over medium heat for 5 – 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat to low and let the veggies cook for 10-15 more.
    • After the vegetables have cooked, add the stock, tomatoes and seasonings to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
    •  Add the seafood to the pot and continue to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Reseason to taste with sea salt and black pepper if needed.
    • Garnish soup with chopped parsley and serve with your favorite crusty bread.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 1050mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3266IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 288mg | Iron: 8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Natalie

      April 13, 2020 at 5:01 am

      5 stars
      I love seafood soup. And my family loves it too. I’m surprised that you added zucchinis in. I must give this recipe a try.

      Reply
    2. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      April 12, 2020 at 2:02 am

      5 stars
      My son has been nagging me to cook some soup for him and our son. And this restaurant-style seafood soupwill be perfect! Looks really delicious and very comforting to eat.

      Reply
    3. Danielle

      April 11, 2020 at 7:52 pm

      5 stars
      I have been meaning to make a decent seafood soup for quite a while now, but never really had a chance. I do now, and this recipe rocks. Really excited to give it a go next week!

      Reply
    4. Sharon

      April 10, 2020 at 5:52 pm

      5 stars
      I love making some of my favorite restaurant meals at home and this restaurant-style seafood soup tastes just like the ones that I get when we go out for dinner.

      Reply
    5. Paige

      April 10, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Looks amazing as usual Dennis! I love how you show the details too, I am bookmarking this one!

      Reply
    6. Bernice Hill

      April 09, 2020 at 11:12 pm

      What a great way to use up leftover seafood and make use of all the extras in the fridge. I have a few that need using up right now and I can never pass up a good soup recipe.

      Reply
    7. rika

      April 08, 2020 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      That looks incredibly delicious! I made a similar seafood soup last week! I am so excited to try this one.

      Reply
    8. Swathi

      April 08, 2020 at 1:11 am

      5 stars
      I love this filling seafood soup, perfect with slice of good homemade fresh bread. I need to try to make it for dinner.

      Reply
    9. Jenn @ EngineerMommy

      April 07, 2020 at 12:49 pm

      I don’t think I have ever had a seafood soup but I do enjoy certain fish, including shrimp, tilapia, salmon and tuna. I would love to try this recipe one day. I also love the tip of using seafood shells to make a stock!

      Reply
    10. Terri Steffes

      April 07, 2020 at 9:28 am

      I love adaptable soups like this one. We have a seafood soup that we love, but you have some different spices. I can’t wait to try this one.

      Reply
    11. Lynndee

      April 07, 2020 at 8:45 am

      We are fans of seafood over here but I haven’t tried preparing seafood soup before. That soup looks delish . Saved your recipe.

      Reply
    12. Marysa

      April 07, 2020 at 8:27 am

      This sounds like a tasty recipe. I will have to save this for when we visit places like Cape Cod, and there is an abundance of fresh seafood!

      Reply
    13. Catalina

      April 07, 2020 at 6:45 am

      5 stars
      Love how this soup is full of veggies and fish flavor! It’s so hearty and easy to make!

      Reply
    14. Agnes

      April 07, 2020 at 6:38 am

      Everything in this recipe is my favorite. I love the veggie combination, so tummy-filling!

      Reply
    15. Tabitha Blue

      April 06, 2020 at 9:18 pm

      Loving soups at home right now. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
    16. Beth

      April 06, 2020 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      I never knew that you should cook the vegetables first! I’ll have to try that the next time I make soup.

      Reply
    17. Shelley King

      April 06, 2020 at 7:43 pm

      Since this whole Healthy At Home started I have been missing seafood the most. I am not great at cooking seafood but I am going to take this one on!

      Reply
    18. Tasheena

      April 06, 2020 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      My family is huge fans of seafood. Looking forward to making this soup for them. I’ve actually never made seafood soup before.

      Reply
    19. Rena

      April 06, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried a seafood soup before but it looks amazing! I cannot wait to try it for myself. Pinning.

      Reply
    20. Amber Myers

      April 06, 2020 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      My husband and kids love their seafood, so they will be all about this! I wish I liked seafood but never got a taste for it.

      Reply
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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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