noun
fish scrap soup; fishhead soup
A soup made by simmering leftover fish parts (heads, bones, trimmings) after filleting. Common in Japanese home cooking and izakaya menus.
魚屋であらをもらって、あら汁を作った。
I got fish scraps from the fishmonger and made fish scrap soup.
居酒屋で熱々のあら汁を頼んだ。
I ordered a piping hot fish scrap soup at the izakaya.
あら refers to the leftover fish parts themselves, while あら汁 is the soup made from them.
潮汁 is a clear fish soup made with salt and often a whole fish or fillet, while あら汁 uses scraps and is typically heartier.
Compound of あら (fish scraps) and 汁 (soup). The word あら is of uncertain origin, possibly related to 粗 (rough, leftover).