This classic Russian Fisherman Soup, called Uha, is filling and comforting. Fish fillets are gently cooked to perfection in a rich broth infused with subtle flavors of bay leaf and black peppercorns.
This article for Ukha Russian Fish Soup was originally written for Curious Cusiniere.
Uha (also sometimes spelled Ukha) is a very old Russian dish that has been around since the 12th century. Nobody knows for sure what the original recipe was, and the way of preparing Uha has changed over the years.
These days, the recipe very much depends on the region. Every family has their own unique way of cooking this Russian Fisherman Soup.
Fishing is a very popular past time in Russia and modern-day Uha is often cooked over an open fire by fishermen using the freshly caught fish.
My Grandfather was a fishing enthusiast and I remember helping my Grandma cook Uha while camping on the shore of a scenic river.
Uha is also a popular soup that people cook at home and you can also often find it on restaurant menus.
The Main Ingredients
Uha (pronounced OOH-ha) can be cooked using various types of fish. Those who are lucky enough to have access to freshly caught fish use the catch of the day, others buy fish at a grocery store.
The other main ingredients in Uha are vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and carrots. Aromatics and spices used are black peppercorns, bay leaf, parsley, and/or dill.
Regional recipe variations might include other vegetables and spices. To make Uha more filling, some cooks add millet – a whole grain which is very popular in Russia.
The Traditional Way to Cook Uha
Traditionally, Uha is cooked with fish stock, which is prepared using fish bones, tails, and heads.
When it’s cooked outside with a catch of the day, often the smaller fish are cooked first to make the stock and the bigger, meatier fish are added at the end. Or, all ingredients are added at the same time and simply cooked together.
Those who cook Uha at home can buy frozen fish bones and heads specially packaged to make homemade fish stock.
The Simple Way of Cooking Russian Fisherman Soup at Home
Making your own fish stock might become problematic if fish bones and heads are not available at your local grocery store. This is the case where I live in Toronto.
Sometimes, you can find a commercially prepared fish stock (which can also be called seafood stock), but again, it’s not available everywhere.
However, I found that a delicious Uha can be prepared with simple vegetable stock, which is readily available in all grocery stores or can be easily made at home.
Another way of simplifying Uha recipe is by buying fresh fish fillets so that you don’t have to spend time dealing with the bones from whole fish. The flavor loss due to the lack of fish stock is easily compensated by sauteeing onions and carrots in some oil.
How to Make Homemade Fish Stock
If you happen to have access to good-quality fish bones, heads, and/or tails, you can make homemade fish stock.
To make fish stock for Uha:
- Place the fish pieces into a pot and add water to cover the fish by about 2 to 3 inches.
- Add a small carrot, a small onion, a few peppercorns, and 2 bay leaves.
- Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 30 minutes.
- Take the fish pieces out of the broth.
- Discard the onion, carrot, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
- Strain the broth through a cheesecloth to make sure no fish bones were left behind.
If the fish pieces have some fish meat left on them, separate the bones and add the edible parts of the fish into the soup before discarding the bones.
How to Cook Fish Fillets in Soup
To cook fish fillets in a soup, first, slice the fillets into 3/4-inch cubes. When all your other ingredients are cooked through, add the fish to the soup.
Fish cooks very fast and can become tough when overcooked, so don’t walk away. Gently stir the soup, making sure all the fish pieces are submerged in the soup liquid. Bring the soup to a simmer.
The fish fillet pieces are done when they are opaque and can easily be flaked with a fork. At this point, take the pot off the heat. Also, keep in mind that the fish will continue cooking while the soup is still hot.
Now it’s Your Turn
What do you think about this Russian Fisherman Soup? Have you ever tried it before? Is it something you would consider cooking at home?
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Other Fish Recipes You Might Like:
If you love fish, check out these healthy fish recipes:
- Salmon Corn Chowder
- Baked Rainbow Trout with Vegetables
- Easy Tuna Chili Recipe
- Roasted Salmon with Veggies
Russian Fisherman Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 medium carrots (thinly sliced)
- 4 cups fish stock (or low sodium vegetable stock)
- 4 cups water
- 3-4 medium potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- 3 bay leaves
- 10 black peppercorns
- salt (to taste)
- ⅓ cup millet
- ½ pound fresh cod filet (cut into cubes)
- ½ pound salmon filet (cut into cubes)
- handful fresh dill and/or parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally until the onions start to caramelize.2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 medium onion
- Add the carrots and cook until the carrots start to soften, about 4 more minutes.2 medium carrots
- Add the stock, water, potatoes, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes.4 cups fish stock, 4 cups water, 3-4 medium potatoes, 3 bay leaves, 10 black peppercorns, salt
- Add the millet and cook for 15 more minutes until millet and potatoes are cooked.⅓ cup millet
- Gently add the fish cubes. Stir and bring the soup to a simmer. The fish will cook through very fast, so make sure to not overcook them. They are done when the flesh is opaque and flakes easily.½ pound fresh cod filet, ½ pound salmon filet
- Garnish the soup with chopped fresh dill or parsley before serving.handful fresh dill and/or parsley
Recipe Notes
- You can skip the millet. Just reduce the amount of liquid used by 1 cup. Without millet, the soup will be more brothy.
- Instead of cod and salmon, use any other type of fish available.
The nutrition facts are an estimate. Variations in ingredient brands, portion sizes, or substitutions can affect the final nutritional values. For the most accurate information, please use a nutrition calculator or consult with a healthcare provider. Always ensure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.
Meet Maria
Maria Ushakova is a holistic nutritionist and food blogger. She focuses on developing easy recipes using real food ingredients. She believes that healthy food is delicious and anyone can learn how to cook it. Maria’s work has appeared on numerous popular websites as well as in print.
This sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to try it. I live in a lake so it will be fresh catch of the day.
I live on a lake, not in it.
Catch of the day sounds great! 🙂