Simple Tomato Fish Soup
Soup Name:
Simple Tomato Fish Soup
Traditional Chinese Name:
番茄魚湯 (fān qié yú tāng)
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Tomatoes are the ideal partner in fish soups. It helps alleviate some of the fishy scent as well as bring a sweet and slightly sour taste to the soup. This soup is ideal for confinements and children (at least one year in age as tomatoes are considered too acidic to young children) and is very neutral and healthy. There is virtually no fat in the soup and the broth is rich in flavor and nutrients. It is a great soup base for other ingredients such as other vegetables (celery, onions, carrots, corn, pumpkin) or additives (chestnuts, water chestnuts).
Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hours 30 min
Serves: 8 bowls
4 medium-sized golden threadfin bream (or any other appropriate substitute)
3 fresh tomatoes, quartered
3 fresh potatoes, largely cubed
2 L of water
1 teaspoon of salt (to marinate the fish)
1 teaspoon of oil (to fry the fish)
- After the fish is cleaned, wipe the fish with paper towels or a cloth to remove excess water
- Cover the fish with a small amount of salt (inside and out)
- Let it sit for an hour and then drain any water
- Peel and cut the potatoes and tomatoes
- OPTIONAL: Some people will prefer to fry the potatoes until they are crispy on the outside to prevent disintegration in the soup
- Start boiling your soup water
- In a pan, add oil and fry the ginger with the fish on low-medium heat (until the fish is completely cooked and the skin is a slightly browned)
- Put the fish into a soup bag and add to water
- Add all the ingredients
- Boil for at least an hour
- This neutral soup is ideal for confinements
- It is also ideal for children (who are able to eat tomatoes)
- It is highly nutritious, contains no fats and can be used as a soup base for noodles, macaroni and other dishes
LOVE this website. I’d like to see some soups for the perimenopausal/menopausal woman. I’ve recommended this website to my friends who are moms and birthworkers. Thanks for the recipes.
Dear JuJu, that is a great recommendation for soups. I’ll have to dig around and ask my mom/soup vendors for suggestions and will post when I come across any! Will actively look! Lisa
Hi there,
I cannot find golden threadfin breams here. What kinds of fishes would be good substitutes? Can I use white bass?
Thanks!
Dear lilacs, in theory, any fish would do actually. However, in general, fish that are less dense are good soup fish. You’ll find all sorts of fish being used in soups. The only thing I would recommend is to use fresh fish, not frozen and avoid using fillets. The heads, tail, bones, etc are extremely nutritious and flavorful in soups and do disintegrate into the soup giving it more punch in protein, collagen and nutrients. Hope this helps! Lisa
Hi
What would be the approximate weight of the 4 medium-sized golden threadfin bream (in lb if possible). Planning on making this soup for my daughter!
Thanks!
Dear NY, about 1.5 – 2 pounds is sufficient. In the end though, the more fish, the sweeter the soup. Fresh fish is always best. Hope this helps. Lisa.