Emma Mykytyn Lohikeitto – Traditional Finnish Salmon Soup with Dill
Creamy, comforting and surprisingly easy to make, Lohikeitto is a traditional Finnish salmon soup made with chunks of salmon, potatoes, fish stock, cream and plenty of fresh dill.
Of course, me being me, and using what I had in the cupboard, it’s tweaked. Milk, red onion and dried dill!
This easy Finnish salmon soup recipe makes a lovely lunch or simple evening meal served with rye bread, sourdough or another good crusty bread for dipping.
What is Lohikeitto?
Lohikeitto means salmon soup in Finnish. There are plenty of variations across Finland. Some recipes contain leek or carrots, while others keep things extremely simple with potatoes, salmon and cream. One of the flavours most associated with Finnish salmon soup is fresh dill, which works beautifully with both the salmon and creamy broth.
Our version uses dried dill as I was using what was in the cupboard and it was raining outside so I was too lazy to go to the shop!
Finnish Salmon Soup Ingredients
Serves 4
1 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely diced
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunky pieces
1 litre fish stock (or use chicken stock if you only have this)
500g salmon fillet, cut into generous cubes
200ml whole milk
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon of dried dill
How to Make Finnish Salmon Soup
1. Soften the onion
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat.
Add the diced onion and cook gently for around 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Try not to let the onion colour too much.
2. Cook the potatoes
Add the potatoes to the saucepan and stir them through the buttery onions.
Pour in the fish stock and add the bay leaves.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for around 10–15 minutes, or until the potatoes are almost tender.
You want them cooked enough to be soft but still able to hold their shape.
3. Add the salmon
Carefully add the chunks of salmon to the saucepan and the dried dill. If you are using fresh dill, add this just before serving.
Simmer gently for around 4–5 minutes, depending on the size of your salmon pieces. Avoid boiling the soup vigorously as this can cause the salmon to break apart.
4. Make it creamy
Reduce the heat to low and pour in the cream or milk.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Gently stir everything together, taking care not to break up the salmon or potatoes.
Warm the soup through but don’t allow it to boil once the cream has been added.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if required.
Finnish Salmon Soup Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 onion finely diced
- 6 medium potatoes peeled and cut into chunky pieces
- 1 litre fish stock
- 500 g salmon fillet cut into generous cubes
- 200 ml whole milk
- Sea salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of dried dill
Instructions
- Soften the onion
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook gently for around 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Try not to let the onion colour too much.
- Cook the potatoes
- Add the potatoes to the saucepan and stir them through the buttery onions.
- Pour in the fish stock and add the bay leaves.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for around 10–15 minutes, or until the potatoes are almost tender.
- You want them cooked enough to be soft but still able to hold their shape.
- Add the salmon
- Carefully add the chunks of salmon to the saucepan and the dried dill. If you are using fresh dill, add this just before serving.
- Simmer gently for around 4–5 minutes, depending on the size of your salmon pieces. Avoid boiling the soup vigorously as this can cause the salmon to break apart.
- Make it creamy
- Reduce the heat to low and pour in the cream or milk.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gently stir everything together, taking care not to break up the salmon or potatoes.
- Warm the soup through but don't allow it to boil once the cream has been added.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if required.
Looking for more soup recipes? Click here!
