Fiskesuppe (Norwegian Creamy Fish Soup)

Method

1. Peel the carrot, potato and celeriac. Cut the carrot and celeriac into thin sticks about 4 cm long and the potato into 1.5 cm cubes; slice the leek into thin rings and rinse out any grit. Feel the white fish and salmon for bones, cut them into 3 cm chunks and pat dry. Thaw frozen prawns and drain them well.

2. Melt the butter in a 18 cm pot on medium heat, add the carrot, celeriac and leek and cook for 4 min, stirring, until softened but not browned.

   Add in this stepButter 20 gCarrot 80 gCeleriac (or celery sticks) 60 gLeek 60 g

   medium heat

3. Sprinkle in the flour and stir on medium-low heat for 1 min so it coats the vegetables and loses its raw taste. Pour in the hot stock a ladle at a time, stirring well after each addition so no lumps form.

   Add in this stepPlain (all-purpose) flour 15 gFish stock, hot 550 ml

   medium-low heat

4. Add the potato, bring to the boil on medium-high heat (about 6 min), then turn down to medium-low heat and simmer for 10 min, until the potato is just tender when pierced with a knife.

   Add in this stepPotato 150 g

   medium-high heat→medium-low heat

5. Stir in the cream and warm on medium-low heat for 2 min until steaming. Season with salt and white pepper; if it tastes flat, it needs a little more salt.

   Add in this stepDouble (heavy) cream 120 mlSalt to tasteWhite pepper to taste

   medium-low heat

6. Gently slide in the white fish and salmon, keep the soup on low heat so the surface barely trembles, and poach for 4 min, stirring only once and very gently so the chunks stay whole. Add the prawns for the last minute just to warm through. The fish is cooked when it is opaque all the way through and flakes when pressed (63 °C in the centre).

   Add in this stepSkinless white fish fillet (cod, haddock or saithe) 160 gSkinless salmon fillet 120 gCooked peeled prawns 60 g

   low heat

7. Turn off the heat, scatter over the chives and ladle straight into warm bowls. Serve with crusty bread or flatbread.

   Add in this stepChives, finely chopped 2 tbsp