Smoky Scallop Chowder With Bacon Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S BAY SCALLOP CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until fat renders and bacon is slightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion to bacon; cook and stir until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir celery and garlic into onion mixture, cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Pour clam juice, chicken broth, potato, cayenne pepper, and black pepper into bacon mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and cook until potatoes are almost tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir cream and chile pepper into potato mixture; bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are completely tender and chowder flavors combine, about 5 minutes. Season with lemon zest and salt.
• Stir scallops into chowder and cook over medium heat until scallops are tender and white, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in tarragon.

BAY SCALLOP CHOWDER WITH BACON AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat a 6 or 8-quart heavy bottomed soup or sauce pot over a low heat and add the bacon. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium and cook the bacon until crisp golden brown. Leave the bacon pieces and the fat in the pan. Add the butter, onion, thyme and bay leaf. Saute them for about 8 minutes over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, but not browned. Add the potatoes and fish stock. The stock should just barely cover the potatoes. If it doesn't add enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 8 minutes. Add the diced cabbage, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. The potatoes should be firm in the center and soft on the outside. If the broth hasn't thickened, lightly smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot and simmer 1 or 2 minutes longer to release their starches. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the scallops and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the cream and let sit 10 more minutes while the scallops finish their slow cooking. Retaste the chowder and adjust the 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 completely chilled. Otherwise, let it sit for up to an hour, allowing the flavors to meld. When ready to serve, reheat over a low heat and don't let the chowder boil. Use a slotted spoon to mound the pieces of scallop, potato, cabbage and bacon in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls and ladle the creamy broth around. Sprinkle generously with sliced scallions.

SCALLOP CHOWDER WITH BACON

Steps:

• Cook chopped bacon in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Add onions and potato to fat in pan and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until onions are thawed, about 1 minute, then sprinkle in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add vegetables, thyme, salt, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes.
• Cut scallops in half (or quarters if large) and add to soup, then simmer just until scallops are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Discard thyme sprig (if using), then season soup with salt and sprinkle with bacon.

NANTUCKET SCALLOP CHOWDER

Steps:

• Sauté bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels and drain well. Drain all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat from saucepan. Add onions and thyme to same saucepan and sauté over medium-high heat until onions are light golden, about 10 minutes. Add 4 cups clam juice, 1/2 cup white wine and potatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add cream and half of bacon and bring to simmer. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add half of scallops and sauté until light golden, about 2 minutes. Add scallops to chowder. Repeat with remaining butter and scallops. Season chowder to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle chowder into bowls. Sprinkle with paprika and remaining bacon and serve immediately.