Finnish Salmon Soup – Lohikeitto ~ this simple salmon and potato soup is the ultimate 30 minute spring meal, with a light cream broth, melt-in-your-mouth chunks of salmon, and tons of fresh dill!
I’m obsessed with anything Scandinavian right now, including this classic Finnish salmon soup. It’s utterly simple and so satisfying ~ made with fresh spring salmon, chunky potatoes, carrots, and leeks. The flavors are unpretentious and clean, with a traditional dill infused broth touched with allspice. We really shouldn’t sit here gabbing about this one…we need to get cooking!
There’s only one hitch to making a great fish soup, and that’s the stock. Most of us don’t have fish stock in the fridge, and you can’t buy it off the shelf, so we need to get creative. One solution is to buy salmon with the skin on. Remove it at home, and use it to make a quick broth. Alternatively you can add the skin the soup while the potatoes and carrots are cooking, and then fish it out later. The good thing is that, like all fish soups, this one gets even better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to develop.
There is no shortage of DELICIOUS SALMON RECIPES on my blog. We love salmon and eat it more than any other type of fish.
If you love it like I do, make sure to check out my RAINBOW SALMON SKEWERS, I make these so often because they literally take about 15 minutes to throw together. We eat them with couscous or salad. Another favorite spring salmon meal of mine is SALMON AND ZUCCHINI BURGERS, I serve the warm burgers over a fresh green salad ~ heaven!
*I lightly adapted this recipe from Cooking the Globe
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon filet, skinned and cut into largish chunks, reserve the skin
- 1/2 stick, 4 tablespoons, unsalted butter
- 1 large leek, trimmed, sliced, and well rinsed
- 5 cups (1,25l) fish stock (can be substituted with water)
- 1 lb russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 large carrot, sliced
- 1 cup (10g) fresh dill for garnish, finely chopped, divided
- 1 cup (250ml) heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a soup pot and saute the leeks for 10 minutes, or until nice and soft.
- While the leeks are cooking, put 5 cups of water and the reserved fish skin in a saucepan and bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Strain the broth and add to the pan with the leeks, along with the potatoes, carrots, and half of the fresh dill. Cook for another 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are just tender.
- Add the salmon chunks to the soup along with the cream and allspice, and gently simmer on low heat until cooked through, just a few minutes. Add the remaining dill, and salt and pepper to taste.
- This soup makes great leftovers, too, the flavors will mature and get even better!
Notes:
- If you can get your hands on great fish stock, by all means use it! Clam broth can also be used. I’ve sometimes even used clam juice as a base for fish soup.
- Serve this soup with some rustic artisan style bread ~ rye or pumpernickel would be amazing! I have a great recipe for PUMPERNICKEL BISCUITS on the blog which would be perfect with this Finnish salmon soup.
Don’t forget to pin it!
15 Comments
Judy
April 30, 2017 at 7:54 pmThank you, Sue! This is totally fabulous! I am usually not a big fan of fish…anything. But, wow and WOW! This will definitely take its place in my regular rotation.
Sue
April 30, 2017 at 7:57 pmI’m so glad, Judy ~ salmon has a way of converting even non fish lovers :)
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
April 27, 2017 at 6:25 amI am glad you loved the idea of this soup and decided to make it. It’s one of the best soups I have ever tasted in my whole life!
Holly Handford
April 23, 2017 at 11:32 amSue, I made a triple batch yesterday using a whole salmon. My husband filleted and deboned the salmon and I made a quick stock with the skin and bones (added an onion, some celery and peppercorns to the stock) and let it simmer for an hour. This is an amazing soup! Have lots of leftovers so am giving it away and taking it to a dinner to share. Thank you Sue!
Sue
April 23, 2017 at 12:32 pmOh my gosh, that stock must have been amazing ~ great teamwork!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
April 23, 2017 at 7:30 amI love everything about this soup! First, such a pretty bowl of soup, but beyond that the combination of potatoes, salmon and dill is bound to be absolutely perfect. Sharing!
Milena | Craft Beering
April 23, 2017 at 6:27 amI am in luck! We do have fish stock in the fridge as we speak:) Leeks softened in butter is an amazing start to any recipe in my world:)
Laura | Tutti Dolci
April 22, 2017 at 10:34 pmWith all the fresh dill and leeks, this is the perfect spring soup!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
April 22, 2017 at 5:33 amI have never thought of salmon and chunky potato in a soup…and I love the how it turned out…comforting, filling and delicious.
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
April 21, 2017 at 2:37 pmGoodness the description alone sold me! It is a beautiful spring soup that is going on my must-try list! We adore salmon and love all that fresh dill. A beautiful treat. I love soup year round :) Have a terrific weekend!
Sue
April 21, 2017 at 3:56 pmThanks Tricia ~ my favorite part about this soup is that light creamy dill broth ~ it’s a great way to enjoy salmon!
Kathy B
April 21, 2017 at 1:37 pmThis sounds really good. Seafood stock is available at one of my grocery stores (New Seasons in Portland, OR) and you can also order it online. I’ve seen both Swanson and Kitchen Basics. Thought this might be helpful.
Sue
April 21, 2017 at 3:06 pmMaybe it’s just my regular store, I can never find it ~ thanks Kathy!
Chris Scheuer
April 21, 2017 at 8:33 amI love the idea of a spring soup. Hip hip hooray for extending soup season! Salmon and potatoes are a favorite combination here so I know this will be a huge hit. Thanks Sue!
Sue
April 21, 2017 at 3:57 pmSpring soups are some of the best! Have a nice weekend Chris.