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Lohikeitto
Finnish creamy salmon soup with potato and dill
Lohikeitto is what Finns cook when they want something warming after a day outside, ladled up in Helsinki lunch cafés and in lakeside summer cottages alike. Chunks of salmon and potato simmer in a light fish stock with leek and allspice, then a little cream turns it pale and gentle and a big handful of dill makes it taste of summer. It takes about forty minutes and is served with dark rye bread and butter. The common mistake is boiling the salmon hard, which turns it dry and stringy; it only needs a few minutes at a bare simmer. Chef's tip: add the salmon last and switch off the heat with the lid on; the fish finishes in the hot soup and stays in juicy flakes.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Melt ⅔ oz butter in a large pan over a medium heat and soften 1 leek for 3–4 minutes without letting it brown.
4 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb waxy potatoes, 1 carrot, 3 ¾ cups fish stock, 6 allspice berries, 1 bay leaf and 1 tsp salt. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 12 minutes until the potatoes are just tender.
12 minStep 3: Pour in ¾ cup single cream and bring back to a gentle simmer. Add 16 oz skinless salmon fillet, lower the heat so the soup barely trembles and cook for 3 minutes.
3 minStep 4: Turn off the heat, cover and leave for 3 minutes. The salmon is done when it is opaque all the way through and flakes apart when pressed with a spoon.
3 minStep 5: Fish out the bay leaf and allspice, stir in most of ⅔ oz fresh dill and taste for salt. Serve in warm bowls with the rest of the dill and rye bread. Eat leftovers within 1 day, reheated gently until piping hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 27 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lohikeitto take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of leek?
- 1 onion per leek.
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