Delicious Halibut Soup Recipe from Spain

Whether you are looking for a comforting dish to enjoy during the next family meal or for the main star of a dinner party, there are some Spanish soup recipes that you can make to leave everyone wanting more.

The halibut soup is an amazing example of this, as its hearty and flavorful nature makes it a standout centerpiece on the dining table, so we will dedicate this article to it.

After reading this article, you will get all of the information that you need on how to make fish soup, with the best tips for storing, serving, and customizing the ingredients.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts:

• Spanish pea soup

• Pork and potato soup

• Flounder soup

Background of the Dish

Although there isn’t an exact date for the creation of the halibut soup, there are some documents that prove that its version was developed in the coastal areas of Andalusia, around the 1600s.

Nowadays, there are dozens of amazing Spanish soup recipes, such as the Spanish fish soup or the white fish soup, but the halibut soup stands out thanks to its soft, chowder-like, texture and rich flavor profile. 

The Andalusian halibut soup continues to be enjoyed as a beloved dish, cherished for its delicious flavors and cultural significance, and with the help of our fantastic and easy recipe, you will be able to enjoy it in the comfort of your home.

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Things You’ll Need for Halibut Soup

To prepare this fantastic halibut soup you will need potatoes, carrot, onion, garlic cloves, halibut filets, fish broth, heavy cream, and olive oil as the main ingredients.

Ingredients

• 4 cups (960ml) fish broth
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• 3 to 4 halibut filets (about 500gr to 650gr)
• 1/2 cup (80gr) green peas
• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 potato
• 1 carrot
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
• Lemon wedges for serving

How to Make Halibut Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with the fish soup recipe, you have to peel and chop carrot, bell peppers, and onion into small pieces. Peel and chop the potatoes into bite-sized squares. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Lastly, chop the tomatoes into small pieces. Set everything aside for later.

2. Now, pat the halibut filets dry with kitchen paper and clean them discarding any bones or inedible parts. Cut the filets into bite-sized pieces. You can also ask the fishmonger to clean the filets to make this process faster.

3. After that, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Also, add the onions and garlic and sauté until softened, which should take about 4 minutes.

4. To continue with this halibut chowder recipe, stir in the diced tomatoes, bell peppers, potato, and carrot. Cook for another 5 minutes until vegetables start to soften.

5. Then, add the smoked paprika, saffron threads, and bay leaf to the pot. Stir to combine, allowing the spices to toast for about a minute.

6. Now, pour in the fish or vegetable broth and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

7. Carefully add the halibut chunks and green peas to the pot. Simmer gently for another 7 minutes until the halibut is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

8. You can now season the halibut chowder soup with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning if necessary. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the heavy cream to reach the perfect halibut chowder consistency.

9. To finish with this Spanish soup recipe, remove the bay leaf from the soup. Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve the halibut soup hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing before eating.

Substitution of Ingredients

For those of you who see the kitchen as a playground and enjoy making ingredient substitutions, this halibut soup provides a wide field of possibilities. 

For example, you can swap out vegetables, adding in seasonal favorites like zucchini, spinach, or kale for a fresh twist on traditional flavors.

As well as other halibut soup recipes, an easy replacement is to switch the halibut for other white-meat fish, like cod, haddock, or tilapia, since they offer similar texture and flavor profiles.

If you are a big fan of Spanish soups recipes, but you want to experiment outside of white meat fish, then we still have some delicious ones for you to try, such as the Spanish shrimp soup and the Spanish seafood soup.

Tips on Serving Halibut Soup

The fantastic halibut soup is commonly served as a main dish, perfect for warming up on chilly evenings or impressing guests with its robust taste and aroma.

Similar to other fish soup recipes, like the fish head soup, it goes really well topped with crusty bread or served with a side mixed greens salad for a complete and satisfying meal.

To make it an even more filling meal, you can copy the traditional fish noodle soup and serve this one with a portion of your favorite cooked pasta (such as angel hair, spaghetti, egg noodles, etc.).

To add another layer of texture while serving this halibut soup, you can top it with a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs or croutons, this way, you will get to contrast with the tender fish and vegetables, elevating the overall dining experience.

How to Store Halibut Soup

The halibut soup should get the title of the best fish soup recipe in the world because not only is it super simple to make, but you can also store it both in the fridge or freezer.

To store it, you have to let the dish cool once you finish making the recipe for Spanish soup, and then place it in an airtight freezer-safe container (covered with a lid and plastic wrap on contact with the top, preferably).

Then, you can take it to the fridge and keep it there for up to 3 days, or to the freezer where it can last up to 60 days without losing its original flavor and texture.

To reheat this, and almost all fish soups, you should avoid doing it in the microwave, as it can cause the delicate fish to become overcooked and rubbery (and it might be hard to get rid of that fishy smell). 

Instead, gently warm the halibut soup over low heat on the stovetop, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.

Are you a meal-prep fan? Then we have more authentic Spanish soup recipes that you can make and store for later, such as the Spanish leek and celery soup, the Spanish bean tomato soup, and the Spanish bacon bean soup.

Recipe Card: Halibut Soup

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