Fisherman's Soup or
halászlé (IPA: /ˈhɒlaːsleː/) in
HungarianHungarian is a Uralic language unrelated to most other languages in Europe. It is mainly spoken in Hungary and by the Hungarian minorities in the seven neighbouring countries...
(
BosnianBosnian is a South Slavic language spoken primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region of Sandžak in Serbia and Montenegro, although it is also spoken in various places throughout the world, as many speakers were forced to become refugees during the Bosnian war...
,
SerbianSerbian is a South Slavic language, spoken chiefly in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and in the Serbian diaspora...
, and
CroatianCroatian is a South Slavic language which is used primarily in Croatia, by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Croatian minorities in some neighbouring countries, in the Italian region of Molise, and parts of the Croatian diaspora....
: riblja čorba, riblji paprikaš; , ribena chorba; , ribina čorba) is a hot and spicy paprika based river fish soup. The meal originates from the Hungarian cuisine, a bright red hot soup prepared with generous amounts of hot paprika and carp or mixed river
fishA fish is any aquatic vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins...
, characteristic for the
cuisineCuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. It is often named after the region or place where its underlining culture is present...
s of the
Pannonian PlainThe Pannonian Plain is a large plain in Central Europe that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried out. It is a geomorphological subsystem of the Alps-Himalaya system.The river Danube divides the plain roughly in half...
, particularly prepared in the
DanubeThe Danube is the longest river in the European Union and Europe's second longest river after the Volga.The river originates in the Black Forest in Germany as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers which join at the German town Donaueschingen, after which it is known as the Danube and flows...
and
TiszaThe Tisza is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It originates in Ukraine, with the White Tisza in the Chornohora and Black Tisza in the Gorgany range, flows partially along the Romanian border, enters Hungary at Tiszabecs, marks the Slovak-Hungarian border, passes through Hungary, and falls...
river regions.
The dish is a famous soup, and often consumed by tourists and locals.
Fisherman's Soup or
halászlé (IPA: /ˈhɒlaːsleː/) in
HungarianHungarian is a Uralic language unrelated to most other languages in Europe. It is mainly spoken in Hungary and by the Hungarian minorities in the seven neighbouring countries...
(
BosnianBosnian is a South Slavic language spoken primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region of Sandžak in Serbia and Montenegro, although it is also spoken in various places throughout the world, as many speakers were forced to become refugees during the Bosnian war...
,
SerbianSerbian is a South Slavic language, spoken chiefly in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and in the Serbian diaspora...
, and
CroatianCroatian is a South Slavic language which is used primarily in Croatia, by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Croatian minorities in some neighbouring countries, in the Italian region of Molise, and parts of the Croatian diaspora....
: riblja čorba, riblji paprikaš; , ribena chorba; , ribina čorba) is a hot and spicy paprika based river fish soup. The meal originates from the Hungarian cuisine, a bright red hot soup prepared with generous amounts of hot paprika and carp or mixed river
fishA fish is any aquatic vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins...
, characteristic for the
cuisineCuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. It is often named after the region or place where its underlining culture is present...
s of the
Pannonian PlainThe Pannonian Plain is a large plain in Central Europe that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried out. It is a geomorphological subsystem of the Alps-Himalaya system.The river Danube divides the plain roughly in half...
, particularly prepared in the
DanubeThe Danube is the longest river in the European Union and Europe's second longest river after the Volga.The river originates in the Black Forest in Germany as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers which join at the German town Donaueschingen, after which it is known as the Danube and flows...
and
TiszaThe Tisza is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It originates in Ukraine, with the White Tisza in the Chornohora and Black Tisza in the Gorgany range, flows partially along the Romanian border, enters Hungary at Tiszabecs, marks the Slovak-Hungarian border, passes through Hungary, and falls...
river regions.
Preparation
The dish is a famous soup, and often consumed by tourists and locals. An important ingredient in Fisherman's Soup is in the
court bouillonBroth is a liquid in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
, which adds significant flavor. To prepare the soup base, fish trimmings are used, fresh carp heads, bones, skin and fins. These are boiled with water, salt and vegetables (red onions, green peppers and tomatoes) for two hours. When ready, the court bouillon is strained. Hot ground paprika and two finger-thick carp fillets, the roe and coral is added, ten minutes before serving, to the boiling soup.
Fisherman's Soup variations
- Fisherman's Soup a la Szeged
Szeged is the fourth largest city of Hungary, the regional centre of South-Eastern Hungary and the capital of the county of Csongrád.- Name :...
. Four different kinds of fish are used. The usual ratio is 1.5 pound (800 g) carp, 1 pound (500g) catfish, 0.5 pound (350g) sturgeon and 0.5 pound (350g) pike or perch.
- Hell's Pub style Fisherman's Soup or Drinker's Fisherman Soup. Bay leaf
Bay leaf refers to the aromatic leaf of the Bay Laurel . Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavor and fragrance in Mexican food, one example is Red Snapper Veracruzana. The leaves are often used to flavor soups, stews, braises and pâtés in Mediterranean Cuisine...
flour, sour cream and a small amount of lemon juice is mixed into the hot soup. Garnished with lemon rings.
- Fisherman's Soup a la Paks
Paks is a town in Tolna county, central Hungary, on the banks of the Danube River.In the last century several mansions were built in the centre of the old town, such as those in Szent István tér, the main square of the town. The Roman Catholic three-isled, basilica style Heart of Jesus church was...
. Home made thin soup pastaSpätzle , are a type of egg noodles and small dumplings found in the cuisine of Germany and regions of neighboring Austria, Switzerland, Hungary where it is called csipetke, nokedli, galuska, and in Slovakia known as halušky, in...
called csipetke is added.
Traditionally, the soup is prepared in small
kettleA kettle, sometimes called teakettle, tea kettle or the pot, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water in preparation for making tea or other beverages requiring hot water. Used only on stovetops. Often made out of copper. Or at least copper bottomed...
s on open fire on the river banks by fishermen. Fisherman's soup in kettle is prepared with fresh fish on the place. When prepared in kettles, first, chopped
onionOnion is a term used for many plants in the genus Allium. They are known by the common name "onion" but, used without qualifiers, it usually refers to Allium cepa. Allium cepa is also known as the "garden onion" or "bulb" onion...
is fried in the kettle with some oil until it is caramelized. Then, ground
paprikaPaprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried fruits of Capsicum annuum . In many European countries, the word paprika also refers to bell peppers themselves. The seasoning is used in many cuisines to add color and flavor to dishes. Paprika can range from sweet to spicy...
is added and the kettle is filled with water. When the water comes to a boil, other spices (such as
black pepperBlack pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is a small drupe approximately five millimetres in diameter, dark red when fully mature, containing a single...
, white wine,
tomatoThe tomato is a herbaceous, usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that is typically cultivated for the purpose of harvesting its fruit for human consumption...
juice) are added, and finally the fish, chopped into large pieces. Entire fish, including heads and tails, are often added to the soup. The soup is usually prepared with mixed fish, the most common species are
common carpThe Common carp or European carp is a widespread freshwater fish most closely related to the common goldfish , with which it is capable of interbreeding. It gives its name to the carp family Cyprinidae. Common carp are native to Asia and Eastern Europe...
,
catfishCatfish are a diverse group of hairey fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores , and even to a tiny...
,
perchPerca is the genus of fish referred to as perch or, sometimes, yellow perch, a group of freshwater fish belonging to the family Percidae...
and
pikeThe northern pike , Esox lucius, is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
. Depending on the amount of added hot paprika the soup is mildly to very hot. The Hungarian soup is famous for being very hot and spicy.
The soup is poured directly from the kettle into the plates and eaten with bread (the spicier the soup, the more bread is required).
Many people, especially fishermen, regard the preparation of fish soup as somewhat secretive. Although the recipe is basically simple, the "right" ratio of
spiceA spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for the purpose of flavour, colour, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth....
s, onion, fish (its quality and variety) and water, as well as timing, affect the soup taste significantly. Many dedicated fishermen regarded their recipe as a highly-kept secret.
Competitions in preparing the soup are popular and are usually held at
fairA fair is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. Activities at fairs vary widely...
s or
picnicIn contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
s along river coast. Visitors are offered to taste the soup for money or for free; the quality is determined by public or
committeeA committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
and (un)success of competitors is often subject of mutual
teasingTeasing is a word with many meanings. In human interactions, teasing comes in two major forms, playful and hurtful. In mild cases, and especially when it is reciprocal, teasing can be viewed as playful and friendly....
.
The soup is best accompanied by dry white wine (such as
RieslingRiesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
), which may be diluted with
soda waterCarbonated water, also known as sparkling water, fizzy water, seltzer, and water with gas, , is plain water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved, and is the major and defining component of most soft drinks. The process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas is called carbonation...
. This combination of white wine and soda water (a wine
spritzer- Origin :Spritzer is the German term used in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form Gespritzter , a term also found in some German regions, such as Hessen - Origin :Spritzer is the German term used in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is...
) is called
fröccs- Origin :Spritzer is the German term used in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form Gespritzter , a term also found in some German regions, such as Hessen - Origin :Spritzer is the German term used in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is...
in Hungarian or
špricer in Serbian and Croatian from the German word
spritz, which imitates the sound made by soda water as it fizzes out of the dispenser.
See also
- Ukha
Ukha is a clear Russian soup, made of fish like salmon or cod, root vegetables, parsley root, leek, potato, bay leaf, lime, dill, green parsley and spiced with black pepper, cinnamon and cloves. Fishes like perch, tenches, sheatfish and burbots were used to add flavour to the soup.Ukha is a fish...
, Russian fish soup
- Bouillabaisse
Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fish stew originating from the port city of Marseille. The French and English form bouillabaisse comes from the Provençal Occitan word bolhabaissa , a compound that consists of the two verbs bolhir and abaissar .Bouillabaisse is a fish soup containing...
, French fish soup
- List of soups
External links