Sancocho de Pescado al Coco is a fish and coconut soup popular in the Pacific and Caribbean regions of Colombia. This flavorful fish and coconut soup is a comforting meal.
Sancocho de Pescado con Coco is a traditional Colombian soup from the coastal region of the country. This Fish and Coconut Soup is thick, almost a stew, and the combination of flavors is wonderful. I love this dish and make it often. The fish balances out the sweetness of the coconut milk perfectly.
Traditionally this soup is prepared using homemade fish broth, which is usually made with fish heads and bones, but you can also use store bought seafood stock like I did, or just use water instead. The soup came together quickly and was in the pot simmering away in no time. The aromas coming from the pot and throughout the kitchen transported me back to my trips to Cartagena. Creamy, comforting, flavorful, and addicting, this Sancocho de Pescado con Coco is a winner.
Which Fish to Use to Make this Soup?
I recommend using mahi-mahi, halibut, swordfish, cod fish, trout or sea bass to make this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite fish to make it and you can also add scallops, shrimp or lobster for a delicious variation.
Cook's note: You can make your own fish stock using 1 pound fish heads and bones, water, onion and garlic. Cook for about 30 minutes and strain the broth.
(Fish and Coconut Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds white fish fillets mahi-mahi, halibut, swordfish, cod or sea bass, cut into large pieces.
- 5 cups of fish stock
- 3 cups of coconut milk fresh or canned
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- ½ green bell pepper diced
- 2 tomatoes peeled and diced
- 1 scallion chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground achiote
- 1 green plantain peeled and cut into pieces
- 1 pound yuca peeled and quartered, fresh or frozen
- 2 corn ears cut into pieces
- ¼ finely chopped cilantro or parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the butter over medium heat, add the onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, scallions, achiote powder, cumin, and salt, and cook over low heat until the onions are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add the fish broth and bring to a boil. Add the corn, plantains and yuca. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked.
- Add the coconut milk and fish, cook on low heat until the fish is cooked, about 8-10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve warm with lime wedges.
Nutrition
This fish and coconut soup is perfect for fall and winter weather as the temperature starts to drop and we all need to be warmed up.
What To Serve With this Soup:
Since this dish is already filling and hearty, I would recommend serving it with this simple salad, white rice or crusty bread and avocado.
More Soup Recipes to Try
Belinda @zomppa
It's a perfect combination of flavors!
Alison
I have made this so many times and it is delicious and easy. To cut down on fat I use 8 cups of seafood broth and 1 cup of coconut milk. Thank you for this recipe!
Mayito Castillo
Uumm! Esto es lo que se llama un sancocho levanta muertos. En mi tierra lo comemos muy a menudo.
Jessica
Erica,
I am of Colombian descent and have been looking for some really good Colombian recipes. I came across your website and have found it to be very helpful. Thank you for your lovely recipes! I made the "Sopa de Pescado en Coco" yesterday and it came out delicious. The flavors were amazing.
Looking forward to try more of your recipes.
Best,
Jessica
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Exotic and delicious!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
I really enjoy a good fish stew, with coconut it will be that much the better. never made my own fish broth though. Looks wonderful.
SOCORRO
SUS RECETAS ESTAN ESPECTACULARES.GRACIAS POR DARNOS ESA DICHA DE ENCONTRAR RECETAS VARIADAS DE NUESTRO DIFERENTES DEPARTAMENTOS. FELICITACIONES Y COMO LO DIJE EN UN CORREO ANTERIOR ORGULLOSA DE SER COLOMBIANA.HAY QUE MOSTRAR LO LINDO DE MI TIERRA COLOMBIANA NUESTRA CULTURA NUESTRAS RAICES, NUESTRA GENTE ,EL EMPUJE QUE LOS COLOMBIANOS TENEMOS PARA LUCHAR.NO TODOS SOMOS MALOS.EN LA VINA DEL SENOR HAY DE TODO. VIVA COLOMBIA. LA FELICITO POR DAR A CONOCER NUESTRA COCINA COLOMBIANA A OTROS PAISES.
Erica Dinho
Gracias, Socorro!
Dianna
DELICIOUS. I've made it twice in one week, at the behest of my husband & kids!!
tiffany
so good thank you for recipe
Christina M Araya
Gracias! Excelente receta!
Indi
Lo hice hoy, una delicia. A mi esposo le encanto. La verdad no tenía fish stock y usé agua con una cuchara de fish sauce. También usé blue fish porque era lo que tenia.
Maria
Prepare esta sopa de pescado y quedó súper deliciosa! Mis invitados quedaron maravillados por el aroma, la textura y el exquisito sabor.
Roberta
I am such a soup lover as well as seafood. I added grocery sale lobster, shrimp, dash of truff hot sauce, pepper flake, and jalapeno powder with cilantro, ginger, garlic, smoked black pepper, and dash of Colima salt flake. I used Goya frozen vegetables. It's a bag of root veg and they've got their own sancocho recipe on the back. I am looking forward to trying 7 meats recipe.