A traditional Baja California dish — Sopa de Mariscos Baja is the great seafood soup of the coast, a tomatoey broth loaded with fish, shrimp, clams, and squid. It is the dish fishermen eat to warm up after a cold morning on the water, and marisquerías serve it by the bowl with lime and tortillas. The secret is layering the seafood so nothing overcooks.
Sopa de Mariscos Baja
A traditional Baja California dish — Sopa de Mariscos Baja is the great seafood soup of the coast, a tomatoey broth loaded with fish, shrimp, clams, and squid.

Step by stepInstructions
- Toast the guajillo chiles in a dry skillet, then soak them in hot water for ten minutes; blend with a cup of the soaking water until smooth.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot and soften the onion, about three minutes; add the garlic and cook one minute more.
- Stir in the blended tomato and chile and cook until the sauce deepens in color, about five minutes.
- Add the fish stock and oregano, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer.
- Add the fish and squid and simmer for five minutes.
- Add the shrimp and clams, cover, and cook until the shrimp are pink and the clams have opened, about five minutes more.
- Discard any unopened clams, stir in the cilantro, and serve in deep bowls with lime wedges.
💡 Chef tips & storage
The guajillo adds color and gentle heat without overpowering the seafood — adjust to taste. Serve with warm tortillas; the broth is too good to leave behind.

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