Published: · Modified: by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.
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Known locally as ‘Lohikeitto,’ Finnish Salmon Soup is deliciously creamy and easy to prepare. Great as an appetizer or light meal, this hearty fish soup recipe will surely warm you up!
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (1) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (1)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-Lohikeitto-PIC1-Jan2021.jpg)
(*This post contains some affiliate links)
You have two of the most-loved ingredients in Northern Europe for lohikeitto — dill and salmon.
Add some cream and vegetables in there, and you’ll have a delightful bowl of warmth and comfort.
Lohikeitto is arguably a winter soup.
However, since we only have around four weeks of warm days in Stockholm (in a year), you can say that I make this salmon soup the whole year-round.
IF YOU WANT MORE TRADITIONAL FINNISH RECIPES, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THESE POSTS!
- Finnish Baked Pancakes
- Finnish Carrot Casserole (Porkkanalaatikko)
Ingredients
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (4) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (4)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-Lohikeitto-labeled-ingredients-Jan2021.jpg)
- Stock – fish stock is the best one to use for lohikeitto.
It gives you a solid base of fish flavor, and adding salmon elevates that flavor even more.
- Carrots – peeled and diced.
- Potatoes – same as above, peeled and diced.
- Butter – I used unsalted butter for this Finnish salmon soup recipe.
- Leek – use only the white and light green parts when making lohikeitto.
- Cream – you can use light cream (half & half) or heavy cream (double cream); it depends on how creamy you want the soup.
- Salmon – go for salmon fillet and chop it into cubes.
- Dill – I strongly recommend using fresh dill to prepare lohikeitto.
Using dried dill will change the flavor of your Finnish salmon soup, so please don’t use it as a substitute.
- Salt and pepper – just use your favorite brand.
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (5) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (5)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-Lohikeitto-PIC2-Jan2021.jpg)
Preparation
Start preparing lohikeitto by placing a medium-sized pan over medium heat.
Add the butter and let it melt.
Once the butter is ready, add leeks and cook until it has softened.
Add diced carrot and potatoes (photo 1).
Mix to combine.
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (6) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (6)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-STEPbySTEP-PIC1-Oct2021.jpg)
Add fish stock and cover the pot with a lid.
Adjust heat to medium-high and bring to a boil (photo 2).
Adjust heat to medium-low and simmer your salmon soup until the vegetables are almost cooked.
Add the chopped salmon (photo 3).
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (7) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (7)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-STEPbySTEP-PIC2-Oct2021.jpg)
Add heavy cream (photo 4).
Mix to combine the cream with the rest of the salmon soup.
Turn heat into medium and cover the pan with a lid.
Cook your lohikeitto for about four to five minutes.
Add salt, pepper, and dill (photo 5).
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (8) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (8)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-STEPbySTEP-PIC3-Oct2021.jpg)
Mix, then turn the heat off.
Cover pan with the lid (photo 6).
Keep covered for about two minutes, then transfer into bowls.
Serve, garnish your lohikeitto with more dill, if preferred.
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (9) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (9)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-Lohikeitto-PIC3-Jan2021.jpg)
Helpful tips
- You can use any part of a salmon for making lohikeitto, as long as you have taken the bones out.
- Try to chop the vegetables in identical sizes but chop the salmon slightly bigger than the vegetables.
Imagine that you can fit two vegetables and one piece of salmon in every spoonful of lohikeitto.
- If you cannot find leeks, replace them with shallots instead.
Do not use onions.From my experience, they’re a bit too strong for this lohikeitto recipe.
- Towards the end of cooking, add a tablespoon of chilled butter and mix if you want a creamier lohikeitto.
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (10) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (10)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Finnish-Salmon-Soup-PIC4-Oct2021.jpg)
Recipe variation
- Salted butter. It’s completely fine to use salted butter instead of unsalted ones.
Just make sure you taste and adjust the seasoning for your lohikeitto, especially the amount of salt — before turning the heat off.
- Stock. Although fish stock is the best to use for making this lohikeitto recipe, vegetable stock is also a good alternative if you don’t have any available.
Looks absolutely delicious, right?
So give lohikeitto a try this weekend and let me know in the comment section below! 🙂
![Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (11) Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (11)](https://i0.wp.com/foodandjourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Roundups-text.jpg)
Lohikeitto Recipe (Finnish Salmon Soup)
You have two of the most-loved ingredients in Finland for this fish soup — dill and salmon. Add some cream and vegetables in there and you’ll have a delightful bowl of Lohikeitto; give this easy salmon soup recipe a try!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Finnish
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 392kcal
Author: Neriz
Equipment
Medium-Sized Saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 pc leek, thinly sliced (only white/lighter part)
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 5 cups fish stock
- 1/2 kg salmon fillet (about 1 lb), cut into cubes
- 3/4 cup heavy cream (double cream)
- 3/4 to 1 cup dill, roughly chopped
- salt and pepper, to season
Instructions
Making Finnish salmon soup:
Start preparing your lohikeitto by placing a medium-sized (or large pan) over medium heat.Add butter.
Once the butter has completely melted, add thinly sliced leek. Cook until slightly soft.
Add carrot and potatoes. Mix.
Add fish stock.Cover pot with a lid, adjust heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
Adjust heat back to medium-low and simmer your salmon soup until vegetables are almost cooked.
Add salmon fillet and heavy cream. Mix to combine.
Turn the heat back to medium.Cover with a lid and continue cooking lohikeitto for 4 to 5 minutes.
Season by adding salt and pepper. Mix.
Add dill to finish your lohikeitto. Turn heat off.
Cover with a lid and keep covered for 2 minutes.
Serving lohikeitto:
Transfer to individual bowls.
Garnish lohikeitto with more freshly chopped dills, if desired.
Serve.
Notes
- Cook’s Tip #1: Fish stock is an excellent flavor base for making this lohikeitto recipe.
- Cook’s Tip #2: Feel free to replace heavy cream with light cream, if that’s what you prefer.
- Cook’s Tip #3: You can use any salmon cut for preparing lohikeitto, as long as it’s a fillet.
- Cook’s Tip #4: Chop the vegetables in almost identical sizes, while keeping the salmon slightly bigger than the size of the vegetables. Imagine that you will fit a couple of vegetables and a piece of salmon in every spoonful.
- Cook’s Tip #5: You can substitute shallots for leeks, but don’t use onions for this Finnish salmon soup recipe — they are too strong.
- Cook’s Tip #6: If you want a creamier lohikeitto, add a tablespoon of chilled butter when you turn the heat off. Mix and then cover with a lid, setting it aside for a couple more minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 762mg | Potassium: 1132mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2811IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2mg
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