Fisherman Soup

Fisherman Soup is a rich, flavorful dish loaded with shrimp, catfish, spicy peppers, and fresh veggies. It’s hearty, healthy, and perfect for anyone looking for a low carb, keto, or paleo-friendly meal that still brings big flavor.

❤️ Why you'll love it

Made with classic ingredients, Fisherman soup has been a popular dish hundreds of years. The spicy soup originally came from Hungary. It was often served warm for the fishermen during the cold winter months.

In Africa, many of the fish used for the Fisherman soup is native to the area and it's often not as spicy as the Hungarian version. The recipe I'm sharing today does have a bit of a kick to it but you can easily adjust the seasonings to tone it down if you want.

It can be customized to your preferences. You can use fresh seafood or your favorite fish to make this a hearty dinner that you love.

It's also healthy and made with healthy vegetables. It's high in protein, keto-friendly, low carb, and paleo-friendly so you can enjoy it without any guilt.

🧾 Ingredients Used

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• Seafood: This soup calls for cooked shrimp and catfish. You can cook the fish beforehand to save time.
• Vegetables: You'll need tomatoes, red bell peppers, and habanero pepper. These veggies add tons of flavor and a bit of heat to the soup.
• Mushrooms: This adds more texture and a richer flavor to this soup. 
• Spices: With ground crayfish, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, black pepper, and salt, this soup is not lacking in flavor. This combination of spices really packs a punch!
• Optional thickener: Add arrowroot powder if you want the soup thicker.

🔪 How To Cook Fisherman Soup

1. Blend the tomatoes, red bell pepper, and habanero peppers together.
2. Pour olive oil into a pot & when heated, add the onions. Sauté until translucent.
3. Pour in the blended tomatoes & pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
4. Add in the spices and stir. Then, pour in 4 cups of water.
5. To thicken, mix the arrowroot powder with ¼ cup of water & pour it in.
6. Simmer for 5 mins, then add the catfish.
7. After 10 minutes, add the shrimp and mushrooms.
8. Simmer for another 10-15 mins or until all the seafood & mushrooms are cooked through.

🥫 Storing and Reheating

You can store this soup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Remove the fish from the broth before reheating the broth. Then, add in the fish and heat briefly so you don't cook the fish for too long.

💭 Tips and Variations

• Add fresh herbs: Don't add herbs while the soup is simmering; add them just before serving for added flavor. You can top this soup with basil or scent leaves. 
• Simmer longer: Before adding the fish, simmer the vegetables and spices for longer so the flavors have more time to blend and strengthen.
• Less habanero pepper: If you're not into spicy food, reduce the amount of habanero pepper to bring down the heat. 
• Add more spice: Those who love spicy food can add more cayenne pepper or even some chili pepper to make the dish spicier. 
• Use different vegetables: Feel free to use a variety of peppers, zucchini, or whatever vegetables you have on hand.
• It's better the next day: Some dishes get better after sitting – this soup is one of them. Let it sit overnight to let the flavors blend together and get a little sharper.

🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?

You can eat fisherman's soup alone for a light soup meal or serve with some rice. On a low carb diet, I eat mine with cauliflower rice.

For a larger dinner, you can also try out these air-fried green beans, instant-pot kale, or instant-pot cabbage as a side for the soup. 

Fisherman soup also goes great with dinner rolls or biscuits with butter for a super comforting, warm meal.

👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

📖 Recipe