Icelandic Cod Soup, with White Wine, Apple and Dill Oil

This Icelandic Cod Soup, with White Wine, Apple and Dill Oil recipe was inspired by an Icelandic chef we saw on TV.  The programme was Rick Stein’s Long Weekends: Reykjavic and the head chef at the Matur og Drykkur restaurant demonstrated his mother’s traditional Halibut soup.  The soup was made with whey, and surprisingly for me mixed dried raisins.

The flavours sounded interesting and I was craving some seafood that particular day.  The local fish market wasn’t open to purchase the Halibut, and Halibut isn’t always readily available, along with the whey.  I felt compelled to make a version of this dish where the ingredients were easily attainable and it didn’t break the bank.  Cod is a good cheaper replacement for Halibut and instead of whey you could go with white wine or white grape juice.  The latter being used in the “baby” version of this dish I made for my 14 month old who loves his seafood!

Mixed raisins in a seafood soup sounded quite strange to me, but along with the sliced apple, and apple cubes marinated in dill oil, they really elevate the dish, offering a sweetness that contrasts with the slight sour notes of the lemon.

The dish does take a little preparation including making the dill oil from scratch, but you could make a larger batch and store as you would any flavoured oil.  This will cut the preparation time the next time you make this dish, and believe me once you’ve tried it you’ll be returning to it over and again!

Print Recipe

Icelandic Cod Soup, with White Wine, Apple and Dill Oil Yum

We need to strain our broth so a colander with small holes or a cheese cloth is needed.

Course

Light Lunch, Main Dish

Cuisine

Icelandic

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Servings

person

Ingredients

• 1 fillet Cod
• 200 ml White wine replace with whey / white grape juice for a non-alcoholic version
• 200 ml Single cream
• 4 Bay leaves
• 4 Sprigs Thyme
• 1 Apple half sliced, half diced into small cubes
• 2 tbsp Dill oil get the recipe on our webite
• 1 tbsp Chopped mixed raisins
• 1 Lemon
• Salt and Pepper to season
• Butter
• 1 Onion or 3-4 shallots

Course Light Lunch, Main Dish Cuisine Icelandic Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Servings person Ingredients 1 fillet Cod 200 ml White wine replace with whey / white grape juice for a non-alcoholic version 200 ml Single cream 4 Bay leaves 4 Sprigs Thyme 1 Apple half sliced, half diced into small cubes 2 tbsp Dill oil get the recipe on our webite 1 tbsp Chopped mixed raisins 1 Lemon Salt and Pepper to season Butter 1 Onion or 3-4 shallots

Instructions

1. In a small bowl add the dill oil to the diced apple, mix and leave to rest.

   
2. Add roughly 1 tbsp butter to a pan, with diced onion, bay leaves, thyme, simmer for 2-3 minutes.

   
3. Add white wine (or whey/grape juice if using) stir and simmer for a few more minutes.
4. Chop the cod fillet into large cubes.
5. Strain the broth into a bowl/jug, be sure to squeeze as much as you can from the bunch of thyme, bay leaves and onions. Don't waste that flavour!
6. Add the strained broth back to the pan. Add some salt and cracked black/red peppercorns to taste. Add the sliced apple, cream, juice of half the lemon, more butter and the cod. Continue to simmer until the cod has cooked through. 6-8 minutes.
7. In a serving bowl add the chopped mixed raisins

   
8. Add the diced apple with dill oil

   
9. Add the cod and sliced apple, then finish with the broth. In the restaurant the dish is served without the broth and the customer adds their own to taste.