A white bowl of fish and shrimp soup, ukha, with a spoon, and bread bun besides it

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I’ve been working on creating the perfect fish and shrimp soup and this one really hit the spot. The fish is perfectly tender and flaky.

Light, but full of flavor; a major comfort soup. Ukha is a traditional Russian soup and you can absolutely use a freshly caught fish just like our ancestors would have except I was too lazy to pick the bones out of a fish. And I was too lazy to go fishing and catch a fish. That being said, my fish came from the freezer aisle of Fred Meyer. Don’t judge me.

Ingredients for Fish and Shrimp soup:

10 cups water
2 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
1 Tbsp salt
3 medium potatoes
2 medium carrot, thinly sliced
12 oz tilapia fish fillets, cut into 1″ pieces
1/2 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp Mrs. Dash
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp fresh parsley or 1 Tbsp dried parsley

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1. In a large soup pot over high heat, add 10 cups water, 2 cups vegetable broth and 1 Tbsp salt. Dice your potatoes and add them to the pot. Bring to a boil and continue to cook the potatoes 10 minutes after boiling.

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2. Add sliced carrots into the pot and cook another 10 min while prepping your mirpoix/zazharka (step 3).

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3. In a large skillet, add 3 Tbsp olive oil over med/high heat. Add finely diced onion and thinly sliced celery and saute until soft and golden (7 min). Toss this mixture into the pot.

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4. Add shelled shrimp and chopped fish to the pot. Also, toss in your 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp Mrs. Dash, 1/8 tsp pepper, 2 Tbsp fresh parsley. Return to a boil and cook another 5 minutes or until fish and shrimp are fully cooked. Salt more to taste if desired and remove from heat. Serve with a sprig of fresh parsley or dill.

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Yum. Yum.
Credits: Big thank you to my sis, Alla who gave me fierce fish soup cravings after I tried a bowl at her house. Also, a great big thank you to Valentina N. who shared her fish and shrimp soup recipe with me and taught me that tilapia and shrimp mingle really well together.

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Shrimp and Fish Soup (Ukha)

5 from 33 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
A white bowl of fish and shrimp soup, ukha, with a spoon, and bread bun besides it
I've been working on creating the perfect fish soup and this one hit the spot. The fish is perfectly tender and flaky. Light, but full of flavor; a major comfort soup. You can absolutely use a freshly caught fish just like our ancestors would have except I was too lazy to pick the bones out of a fish. And I was too lazy to go fishing and catch a fish. That being said, my fish came from the freezer aisle of Fred Meyer. Don't judge me.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 -10
  • 10 cups water
  • 2 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 Tbsp sea salt
  • 3 medium potatoes
  • 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
  • 12 oz tilapia fish fillets, cut into 1" pieces
  • 1/2 lb shrimp
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 Tbsp Mrs. Dash
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley or 1 Tbsp dried parsley

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot over high heat, add 10 cups water, 2 cups broth and 1 Tbsp salt. Dice your potatoes and add them to the pot. Bring to a boil and continue to cook the potatoes 10 minutes after boiling.
  • Add sliced carrots into the pot and cook another 10 min while prepping your mirpoix/zazharka (step 3).
  • In a large skillet, add 3 Tbsp olive oil over med/high heat. Add finely diced onion and thinly sliced celery and saute until soft and golden (7 min). Toss this mixture into the pot.
  • Add shelled shrimp and chopped fish to the pot. Also, toss in your 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp Dash, 1/8 tsp pepper, 2 Tbsp fresh parsley. Return to a boil and cook another 5 minutes or until fish and shrimp are fully cooked. Salt more to taste if desired and remove from heat. Serve with a sprig of fresh parsley or dill for garnish.
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Shrimp and Fish Soup, Ukha
Skill Level: Medium/ Easy
Cost to Make: $$

Final Final Picmonkey Hashtag bannerAnd because a gazillion of you have asked for the nutrition info:nutrition for shrimp and fish soupI call this shot “Chilling in the hot tub”…

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Carline
    March 26, 2024

    So yummy and easy!
    This recipe looked so good Natasha – I had to try it immediately! Didn’t have tilapia so I used salmon. Added an extra potato and a drained can of corn. Instead of Mrs. Dash – I used combination of Ole Bay/Slap Ya Mama/Everything bagel seasoning. Also seasoned the celery and onion with Ole Bay while cooking them and also added about 1/3 cup of chopped green peppers. OMG! So yummy!!!! Served with brown jasmine rice. Hubby and friends LOVED it! This will soon become a new favorite go to recipe! Thank you – and glad I found your blog!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 26, 2024

      Yay! I’m super happy to hear that you loved this recipe a lot! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • Mira
    September 20, 2023

    I will be making this soup tomorrow can’t wait to try it! can I use mahi instead of tilapia.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 20, 2023

      Hi Mira! Yes, that would be fine. I hope you love the recipe.

      Reply

  • Jr
    October 28, 2022

    Thanku very much for this wounderful recipe It was delicious I will definitely make this again God bless

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 28, 2022

      Hi Jr! You’re welcome! I’m so glad you loved it. Be blessed!

      Reply

  • Natalia
    May 10, 2022

    Dear Natasha – I keep using this recipe over and over and wanted to say thank you so much! I love your website, many blessings to you and your family

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 10, 2022

      Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Natalia! Blessings to you also!

      Reply

  • Gladys Garcia
    March 9, 2022

    What can I use if I can’t find Mr Dash seasoning at my grocery store?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 9, 2022

      You can use an alternative seasoning blend of your choice or make your own combination blend with onion powder, parsley, thyme, sage, pepper, salt, garlic powder, etc. Or you could just use salt and pepper.

      Reply

  • Hani
    October 15, 2020

    Hi Natasha!

    We don’t have a mrs.dash in my country. Any pointers on what to substitute with?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 15, 2020

      Hello Hani, you can use the usual seasoning that you have at home like salt pepper etc.. for taste.

      Reply

  • Lilliana
    April 14, 2020

    Hi there…so I don’t have vegetable broth, can i replace it with something else?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 14, 2020

      HI Liliana, a chicken broth or stock would also work or a fish stock if you have one.

      Reply

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