Saffron Fish and White Bean Soup Recipe


Flaky chunks of white fish swimming in a saffron laced clam broth with buttery beans and diced tomatoes.  This is a quick, easy and satisfying soup that can be prepared within half an hour, perfect for this busy weeknights. 


This is a recipe I found a few months ago on A Good Appetite a few months ago. The way Kat described it as "slightly exotic but still comforting," was so enticing to me that I just had to try it myself. After making this batch, my only regret is that I didn't double to recipe so that I would have leftovers. 


Saffron Fish and White Bean Soup
(adapted from Cooking Light April 2010 via A Good Appetite)
  • 1/2 cup dry white beans (or 7 oz canned)
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed with a mortar & pestle
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
  • 3/4 cup water (I used homemade chicken broth)
  • 8 oz bottle clam juice
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes including juices
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 - 3/4 lb of firm white fish, I used cod, cut into 2-inch pieces
Method
  1. Soak and then simmer beans in 1 1/2 cups water until soft. Drain and set aside. If using canned drain and then rinse the beans.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, fennel, coriander, garlic and one thyme sprig. Cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the saffron threads, crushing them with your fingers as you add them to the pot. Pour in the water, clam juice and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and let cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the salt, fish and beans. Let cook for 5 more minutes. The fish should be cooked through & flaky. Remove the sprig of thyme.
  5. Divide between two bowls. Remove leaves from remaining springs of thyme and sprinkle on top.

Serves 2-3.

I'm sending this over to Deb at Kahakai Kitchen for Souper Sundays.

42 comments:

Barbara said...

Do you know how difficult it is to take a photo of soup that looks like anything? Your photo is fantastic! I bet the saffron helped. :)(I know we're talking about taste here, but had to comment on that photo!)
I can't wait to make your soup, Christine. I love that strong fennel flavor with fish. Nice you based it on a Cooking Light recipe..that means it is good for us as well as tasty.
Super recipe.

Belinda @zomppa said...

Saffron is such a lovely "secret" ingredient - looks wonderful!

Simply Life said...

oh wow, that looks so delicious and full of flavor!

Gourmande said...

A perfect Summer soup... I will surely try it soon. Thanks.

Gloria Baker said...

Yummy, absolutely yummy soup Christine, xx gloria

Claudia said...

I am a soup-o-holic - even in the summe. Love how light it is but with the bold flavors and the photo just welcomes me to the table. I don't use saffron enough.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

This sounds like an absolutely delightful any season soup but with fresh herbs from the garden even more delightful in summer. I can't wait to try it!

Joanne said...

30 minute soups are incredibly hard to come by, especially ones as tasty as this!

Emily said...

This soup sounds so good, especially on a colder Michigan day like today. And I love the addition of saffron.

Tasty Trix said...

I can taste this in my head, mmm. Saffron gives things such an usual flavor, and it seems so special occasion food - I never think to use it in soup. Love it.

Lori Lynn said...

Sounds delicious! I love that is simple yet still has intriguing spices, love saffron and fennel. I'm making it! Thanks Christine!
LL

Haddock said...

These beans are highly nutritional

Mary Bergfeld said...

This is really a standout of a recipe made better still by your gorgeous photography. I will be trying this one. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

Katie@Cozydelicious said...

This soup looks amazing. The tomatoes bring so much brightness, both color and flavor. Yum!

Ingrid de Villiers said...

Wow Christine it looks delicious.... I will have to try it! Thanks for visiting my blog...calamari is easy to make and I know you will do a great job by doing it!
Ixx

fimere said...

parfait pour les jours ensoleillés
j'aime beaucoup
bonne soirée

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This does sound quite comforting:D

Unknown said...

I wish I saw this hours ago! I had Alaskan Cod in the fridge and I was trying to come up w/something a little different. I'm already committed to something with it but this LOOKS SO GOOD I'll have to try it next time! (I actually have saffron right now too!)

Tina said...

Fantastic. I had some saffron I was hording.....perfect for this recipe.

Asha @ FSK said...

Saffron! ah! one ingredient that takes a dish from great to sublime! :) love the recipe...

OysterCulture said...

What a fantastic sounding soup - I love all the different spices - I'm making some soon and thanks to your caveat will be doubling my recipe.

Esme said...

Christine-send me your address and the book is yours-somehow I ended up with two copies.

tasteofbeirut said...

This soup sounds wonderful; I love fish soup that mask the taste of fish and this one with the saffron and the beans is a great example! Your photo is fantastic. makes me want to take a big ladle of it right now!

Pam said...

Wow. This looks and sounds fantastic.

sophia said...

I usually don't eat much fish stews....but this I would slurp up several bowls at once!! I love the addition of saffron (though I can't afford it) and white beans are the perfect, mild, creamy complement!

Kathleen said...

Your photos are beautiful! Love the sound of the soup too!

Sook said...

I went and got some fish this weekend! This soup looks totally delicious, Christine! I can't wait to try it.

Lori said...

I rarely use fish in soup. I'm not sure why, it just never comes to mind for me. This looks delicious and full of flavor. The perfect, light summer soup.

Kim said...

This is a gorgeous picture, Christine! Exotic and comforting is a great description for this soup. The saffron has given it a beautiful color.

Stella said...

Hey Christine, I just said to someone the other day that I love anything with seafood and saffron. And with white beans in the mix, you've created the perfect lunch or dinner for me at least!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

This soup look so fresh and healthy, well done.

Lazaro Cooks said...

What a lovely soup. Saffron is such a wonderful compliment to fish.

Prefect presentation and photos. Glad I found your blog. Thank you for your kind words and I look forward to following you here.

Cheers!

Erica said...

That sounds and looks really scrumptious.. will try it.I love saffron.

lisaiscooking said...

Sounds like a fantastic meal! I love the simplicity of this and what must be amazing flavor.

sweetlife said...

fish, saffron and beans, great soup..I would love this on a weeknight..

sweetlife

Velva said...

Wow, Christine this does look delicious. I think a double batch would have been good idea. :-)

tigerfish said...

How can this soup not be good!Love the onions, tomatoes, and spices...brings flavor nuances to this soup.

Deana Sidney said...

I agree, you take a really perfect shot of soup... no mushy mess for you... crisp and full of detail.. great work! AS for anything with saffron, I'm in and I feel like I should take advantage of fish now before it is all oil fouled!

nancy at good food matters said...

Saffron really does a lot to elevate foods to that "slightly exotic" level that Kat was talking about.
This looks like an excellent recipe, uncomplicated and healthy. I will remember this one for certain.

Magic of Spice said...

This is a great soup...love the saffron!

Mimi said...

Fabulous soup.
Mimi

Deb in Hawaii said...

I am very belated in getting around to Souper Sunday posts with house guests. Just wanted to say thanks for sending such a lovely soup in--saffron, fish and beans are such a great combination. ;-)