Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (2024)

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (1)

When I worked at a seafood restaurant in Homer, Alaska, a young chef made an off-the-cuff Peruvian-inspired cilantro lime seafood pasta for a special one night. It was a slow weeknight, one where the chefs had a little more leeway to experiment. Few customers ordered it and he never made it again. But it was a hit among the staff and I’ll never forget it.

The two things that stood out were the lime and cilantro which fused beautifully with the sauce swimming with fresh seafood. This spicy cilantro lime seafood soup is inspired from that memorable creation.

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup

This recipe is also included in my new book, Fearless Broths and Soups. The book includes over 50 simple 3-step recipes. It is part of the “Soups from the Sea” chapter which features soups made with fish broth. If you’d like to get more recipes like this one, be sure to keep reading below the recipe.

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe

A Peruvian-inspired soup with fresh chiles, cilantro, lime and seafood all melding together in a fragrant broth.

Ingredients

▢ 1 quart fish stock
▢ ½ – 1 pound shrimp diced
▢ ½ – 1 pound mussels
▢ ½ – 1 pound whitefish such as like cod, hake, haddock or halibut, chopped into bite-sized pieces
▢ 1-2 TBSPs olive oil or coconut oil
▢ 1 medium onion diced
▢ 2-4 cloves garlic diced
▢ 1-2 potatoes chopped into cubes
▢ 1-2 medium tomatoes chopped
▢ 1 hot pepper Thai red, jalapeno, serrano, etc., diced or 1-2 tsps chili powder, optional
▢ 1 lime quartered
▢ ½ cup cilantro chopped
▢ Fish sauce or sea salt, to taste

Instructions

Saute onion and hot pepper, if using, in olive oil or coconut oil for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and chili powder, if using, and saute another minute or two.
Add fish broth, tomatoes and potatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender about 10-15 minutes.
Add seafood, two lime wedges and half of cilantro and simmer until mussels open, if using, or until seafood is cooked, about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove lime wedges but squeeze the juices into the soup. Season to taste with lime juice from remaining lime wedges and salt or fish sauce. Top with additional cilantro.

Notes

1. Always play around with different spice levels to find what you like. Personally, I prefer using a chili powder because I can add small amounts and then quickly add more to get my preferred spiciness. Or, if you can’t tolerate any spice, just leave it out entirely. Always adjust things to your personal tastes. But don’t let your personal tastes keep you from trying new things either!

2. You could use canned tomatoes here but it will make this more of a tomato-cilantro-lime soup. For that reason, I prefer fresh tomatoes.

3. Use any combination of the shrimp, mussels and fish you want. Or just use one of them. Add other seafood as well – squid, clams and different types of fish are perfectly suited as well.

Nutrition

Get More Simple Seafood Soups!

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (3)

In addition to the Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup, my new book, Fearless Broths and Soups includes recipes for:

Basic Cioppino
Basic Bouillabaisse
Thai Green Coconut Curry Seafood Soup
New England Clam Chowder
Mango Coconut Curry Mussels Soup
Korean Gochujang Seafood Soup
Burmese Mohinga
And many more!

Click here to find Fearless Broths and Soups on Amazon

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (4)

Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (5)

Fearless Eating may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. More info here.

About the Author

Craig Fear is the creator of Fearless Eating and the author of three books, The 30-Day Heartburn Solution, Fearless Broths and Soups and The Thai Soup Secret. After years helping clients with digestive issues, Craig decided to pursue writing full-time. He intends to write many more books on broths and soups from around the world! Click here to learn more about Craig.

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Spicy Cilantro Lime Seafood Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What spices add depth to soup? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

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What kind of soup is made from fish seafood or vegetables may be compared to a stew? ›

Chowder is a type of thick soup whose most traditional and well-known forms contain clams, fish, or other seafood, often in a creamy, milk-based broth and also featuring potatoes, onions, tomatoes, or other vegetables.

Read The Full Story ›

How can I deepen my soup flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

What's the difference between soup and broth? ›

Broth uses bones with meat still on them, or meat alone. And soup is made from either broth or stock, and has other ingredients added to it for texture and flavour.

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What is a thick soup made with vegetables and seafood called? ›

Chowder is a thick, chunky soup. Traditionally, chowder is made with seafood or fish, but chowders made with poultry, vegetables, and cheese are also popular.

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When to add shrimp to soup? ›

First, the shrimp first hits a hot skillet of olive oil to sear the shrimp until JUST pink (2 minutes or so.) Then we set it aside while we work on the various components of the soup, adding the shrimp back to the pot of soup toward the very end as the soup is finishing (about 2 more minutes or so.)

Tell Me More ›

What spices add depth of flavor? ›

Spices like black peppers, cinnamon, ginger and cumin add depth to foods. Aromatic vegetables, such as onions, garlic and pepper, add complexity to dishes without adding salt. Boost flavor with fruit, such as citrus juice and citrus zest.

Get More Info ›

How do you increase soup thickness? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

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What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

How to fix tasteless soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt.

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