Aleppo Pepper Fish Soup

A delicious & easy to prepare fish soup LOADED with flavor. Paprika & Aleppo pepper take this soup over the top. Delicious ♥

How often do you feel uninspired when it’s time to cook?  Perhaps uninspired isn’t the right word – maybe unprepared.  Often I’m tired, busy and have made no plans for dinner until it’s time to cook.  It becomes a game of creation.  What’s in the pantry, what’s in the fridge, what’s in the freezer and when does it need to be ready by.

These dinners can go two ways – brilliantly or blah.

This one was brilliant.  It starts how most soups should – butter, celery, onions & garlic.  With a little know how, you can go a million directions with this foundation.  I chose fish.

We’ll talk about one ingredient that many people might not be familiar with – Aleppo pepper.  Grown in Syria & Turkey, hence the name Aleppo.

I’m in absolute love with it.  The smell of it is intoxicating.  The aroma reminds me of the best Hungarian paprika I’ve ever smelled with an alluring whiff of heat.  The flavor – it’s a pepper all of it’s own.  A mild, but zesty, almost fruity but smoky heat.  It fondly takes me back to the best peppery syrah I’ve ever tasted.

I would love to dump it all over everything I eat as I would a crushed red pepper, but at times Aleppo pepper might not be the easiest spice to get ahold of.  Ongoing conflict in the region it’s grown has made it difficult to grow and export.  Most of what we get our hands on is coming from Turkey, which is said to be the same plant, but Turkey supply does not always meet demand.  Prices have become higher and now there is an abundance of counterfeit Aleppo pepper sold.  Counterfeit spices – it’s almost humorous – but not.  So buy your spices from a trusted supplier 🙂

So my beloved Aleppo pepper won’t be getting dumped by the handfuls over my pizza, but this soup was worthy of a generous pinch of it.  My, oh my, the difference an amazing ingredient will make.

I hear you though.  You’re saying “I want some fish stew and I don’t have any of your magic pepper”.  First, buy some and have it for next time.  Then go ahead and mix up equal parts of crushed red chili flakes and a good Hungarian paprika.  It’ll get you through 🙂

I used flounder for this soup, simply because it’s what I had.  Use whatever fish you have on hand & prefer.  I just tossed the fillets in the pot, broke them up a little and let it simmer away.  I added a generous pinch of Aleppo pepper – if you like things hotter than go ahead an heat it up with as much pepper as you need 🙂

I’m not even in the know to determine if this should be considered a soup or a stew.  I lean towards a soup, but I’ll call it both to keep everyone happy.

Cold weather is calling and this Fish Soup is answering.  Warm, comforting, loaded with flavor – it’ll make these cold Fall nights all the more cozier.  Happy Cooking!

-Amanda-

Print Recipe

Not Your Average Fish Soup

A delicious & easy to prepare fish soup LOADED with flavor. Paprika & Aleppo pepper take this soup over the top. Delicious!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Soups &amp, Stews

Servings: 4 - 6 servings

Author: Amanda

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon butter
• 3 stalks celery diced
• 1 medium onion diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 15 oz. can seafood stock/broth about 2 cups
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup clam juice about 4 ounces/half a bottle
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon aleppo pepper
• 12 oz -16 oz flounder or fish fillets
• 1 15 oz can corn undrained
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a stockpot, over medium to medium high heat, saute celery & onions in butter until onions are translucent and celery is tender.
• Add garlic, saute for a minute.
• Add wine, stirring, scraping bottom of pot.
• Add seafood stock, chicken broth, clam juice, parsley, smoked paprika, paprika & aleppo pepper. Bring to a light boil.
• Add fish fillets. Stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally (while gently breaking up fish fillets) for about 30 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream.
• Salt & pepper to taste.
• Serve & enjoy.