Mexican Fish Soup (Caldo de Pescado)
A comforting favorite during Lent, this Mexican fish stew features a rich tomato and fish broth that comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s the perfect cozy bowl to warm you up on chilly nights.
Ingredients
- 4 fillets of cod about 1.25 pounds cut into chunks
- 12 ounces uncooked shrimp option for peeled and deveined or keep whole shell on
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½ inch chunks
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced into ½ inch chunks
- 3 celery stalks, diced into ½ inch chunks
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 dried ancho chile
- 2 dried guajillo chiles
- 1 28- ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 4 cups fish stock
- ½ red onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more to taste
Instructions
- Bring a cup of water to boil in a small saucepan. Cool slightly. Place dried chiles in a small prep bowl and pour the boiled water over them. Allow chiles to soak and soften, about 10 minutes. Remove from water and remove the stem and seeds (you can leave in a few seeds for added spice or heat as desired).
- In the bowl of a food processor, add tomatoes, chopped onion, garlic cloves, and the soaked chiles. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and black peppercorns. Pulse the mixture to create a tomato sauce. Purée until smooth.
- Using a medium bowl fitted with a mesh strainer, strain the tomato sauce until smooth. Discard the remaining purée. Set to the side until ready for use.
- In a large dutch oven, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots and celery and season with a large pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper. Cook until softened and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add in potatoes, the puréed tomato sauce, fish stock, the dried bay leaf, and 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano. Stir everything to combine then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer to allow the potatoes, carrots, and celery to cook for about 15 minutes until the vegetables are fork tender.
- Once vegetables are cooked through, remove the bay leaf and discard. Add in the diced fish chunks and shrimp. Continue to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more until fish is tender and shrimp has just turned pink. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro leaves, a wedge of lime, and, if desired, a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. Serve with a warm pile of fresh tortillas.
Notes
- Add a Garnish: Choose from chopped cilantro, lime or lemon juice, hot sauce, or salsa.
- Choose Firm White Fish: Cod, snapper, halibut, or tilapia work well. Avoid delicate fish that can fall apart in the broth.
- Adjust the Heat: For more spice, add a chile de árbol, leave in some chile seeds, or splash in your favorite hot sauce.
- Boost the Smokiness: Smoked paprika or chipotle in adobo adds extra smoky depth.
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