Recipe

Smoked Fish Chowder

Quite possibly my favorite soup ever… I make this with fresh cod and smoked salmon. 

Overview

Potates, leeks, fennel, corn…

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs. red-skinned potatoes, ½” dice

2 bay leaves

2 fennel bulbs, cored and thinly sliced

2 quarts milk

2-3 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, cut lengthwise in half then sliced into ¼” pieces. (See the notes section in the recipe card below for how to clean leeks without losing your mind!)

2 cups heavy cream

½ large onion, thinly sliced

1 ½ pounds smoked fish (I use cold-smoked salmon)

4-5 tablespoons butter

1 ½ pounds fresh cod

1 ½ tsp. thyme

2 cups frozen white corn

Instructions

Step 1

Dice the potatoes (leave the skins on), cover with water, and cook until barely done, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Melt the butter in a large stockpot. Sauté the fennel, leeks, and onions with the thyme and bay leaf over med-low heat, covered, for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.

Step 3

Add the potatoes then add the milk and the cream, heating slowly and stirring to prevent the soup from boiling.

Step 4

Once hot, add the frozen corn. Stir and bring back to temp.

Step 5

Add the smoked fish, cut into bite-sized pieces, then add the fresh fish and heat until the fish is cooked (about 3 minutes) and turn off the heat. Be careful not to boil the soup.

Step 6

Add salt and pepper to taste. Be careful with the salt as the smoked salmon is already salty. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Smoked Fish Chowder

5 from 4 votes
Servings 16
Calories 349 kcal
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
One of my favorites! The smoked fish gives this soup a lot of depth.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs. red-skinned potatoes ½” dice
  • 2 fennel bulbs cored and thinly sliced
  • 2-3 large leeks white and pale green parts only, cut lengthwise in half then sliced into ¼” pieces (see note below about preparing leeks)
  • ½ large onion thinly sliced
  • 4-5 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tsp.+ thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 quarts milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 ½ pounds smoked fish I use cold-smoked salmon
  • 1 ½ pounds fresh cod
  • 2 cups frozen white corn
  • Freshly ground pepper

Instructions
 

  • Dice the potatoes, cover with water, and cook until barely done, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a large stockpot. Sauté the fennel, leeks, and onions with the thyme and bay leaf over med-low heat, covered, for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
  • Add the potatoes then add the milk and the cream, heating slowly and stirring to prevent the soup from boiling.
  • Once hot, add the frozen corn. Stir and bring back to temp.
  • Add the smoked fish, cut into bite-sized pieces, then add the fresh fish and heat until the fish is cooked (about 3 minutes) and turn off the heat. Be careful not to boil the soup.
  • Add pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Notes

Preparing Leeks
Because of the way they are grown, leeks are usually full of dirt inside, making them hard to clean. Follow these steps to make getting them clean easy:
  1. Fill a large bowl with cold water
  2. Wash the outside of the leeks under running water
  3. Cut off the roots, then slice each one lengthwise, then slice into 1/4" pieces. 
  4. Put the pieces into the bowl of water and swish them around a bit with. your hands. Then let it sit for a minute. The dirt will fall to the bottom of the bowl. 
  5. Lift the leeks out of the bowl and pour out the water. 
  6. If you feel you need to, you can bathe them again, but most often I find that one bath works!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 22gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 436mgPotassium: 857mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1000IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Chowder, Cod, Smoked Fish, soup
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