New England Fish Chowder
"To me, this is the most authentic and most important recipe in this book. It is the gold standard for chowder: a hearty main course with deep flavors, luxurious texture, and generous chunks of fish, onion, and potato. New England Fish Chowder is easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and doesn’t require you to be fussy or exact. After making this chowder a few times, you will begin to understand the Zen of chowder."
- Ready In:
- 1hr 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 10
- Serves:
-
8
ingredients
- 113.39 g salt pork, rind removed and cut into 1/3-inch dice
- 29.58 ml butter
- 2 medium onions, cut into 3/4-inch dice
- 6-8 sprig fresh thyme, leaves removed and chopped (1 tablespoon)
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 907.18 g potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/3-inch thick
- 1182.95 ml clam juice
- salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 1360.77 g fish fillets
- 354.88 ml heavy cream
directions
- Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over low heat and add the diced salt pork. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium and cook until the pork is a crisp golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cracklings to a small ovenproof dish, leaving the fat in the pot, and reserve until later.
- Add the butter, onions, savory or thyme, and bay leaves to the pot and sauté, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 8 minutes, until the onions and softened but not browned.
- Add the potatoes and stock. If the stock doesn’t cover the potatoes, add just enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 10 minutes, until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center. If the stock hasn’4hickened lightly, smash a few of the potato slices against the side of the pot and cook for a minute or two longer to release their starch. Reduce the heat to low and season assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost overseason the chowder at this point to avoid having to stir it much once the fish is added). Add the fish fillets and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat and allow the chowder to sit for 10 minutes (the fish will finish cooking during this time).
- Gently stir in the cream and taste for salt and pepper. If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit for up to an hour at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld.
- When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don’,et it boil. Warm the cracklings in a low oven (200° F) for a few minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to mound the chunks of fish, the onions, and potatoes in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls, and ladle the creamy broth around. Scatter the cracklings over the individual servings and finish each with a sprinkling of chopped parsley and minced chives.
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Reviews
-
I made this recipe for a party and used pacific cod as the filets. I added a dash of old bay seasoning and dill, otherwise kept everything the same, and everyone raved about it. It was the best fish chowder I've ever made or had, my husband, too...and that's coming from a couple of Rhode Islanders with commercial fishing relatives! -
A little heavy on the cream, but otherwise delicious. I had whole fish, so I cut it in chuncks, poached it, (with a bay leaf, Old bay seasoing and a little lemon) and used the strained poaching liquid along with the clam juice. I also added a can of corn. My family loved it! -
from a Maine Islander... excellent!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
<p>I love to cook for my family. I have a taped together Cajun cookbook that I don't think I could live without. My main loves are Jesus, my family, and southern cooking.</p>
