Clear Fish Soup

Ukha is the Russian fisherman’s soup, traditionally prepared by simmering the catch of the day over a wood fire on the sandy banks of the shore. No doubt it is these bucolic associations that make Russians sigh when ukha is mentioned, for they rarely make the soup at home. Basically, ukha is a clear fish broth, with potatoes sometimes added to fill it out. Almost any fish may be used, as long as it is very fresh, since old fish turns the soup cloudy. The Russians claim that “bony fish make