The Real Deal New England Fish Chowder Recipes

NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• 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; reserve.
• Add the butter, onions, savory or thyme, and bay leaves to the fat in the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the onions have softened but not browned, about 8 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and stock. If the stock doesn't cover the potatoes, add a little water. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and boil the potatoes vigorously until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center, about 10 minutes. If the stock hasn't thickened slightly, smash a few of the potato slices against the side of the pot and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Reduce the heat to low and season assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost over season at this point in order to avoid having to stir once the fish is added). Add the fish fillets and cook over a low heat until the fish is almost done, 5 minutes. 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 (only 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 a low heat; don't let it boil. Warm the cracklings in a low oven (220 degrees 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, ladle the creamy broth around and scatter the cracklings over top. Finish each serving with a sprinkling of chopped parsley and minced chives.
• Melt the butter in a heavy 7 to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, and peppercorns and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables become very soft without browning, about 8 minutes.
• Place the fish head on the vegetables and stack the fish frames evenly on top. Pour in the wine, cover the pot tightly and let the bones sweat until they have turned completely white, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add enough very hot or boiling water (approximately 2 quarts) to just barely cover the bones. Give the mixture a gentle stir and allow the brew to come to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered, carefully skimming off any white foam that comes to the surface (try to leave the herbs, spices and vegetables in the pot).
• Remove the pot from the stove, stir the stock again and allow it to steep undisturbed for 10 minutes. Ladle through a fine-mesh strainer and season lightly with salt. If you are not going to be using the stock within the hour, chill it as quickly as possible.
• Cover the stock after it is thoroughly chilled (it will have a light jellied consistency) and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

THE REAL DEAL NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Your pot may only take 2 cans of the evaporated milk. Zaar didn't like 2-3 cans. :). Those who hate or are skeptical about evaporated milk have all loved my chowders.
• Place onions and potatoes with thyme and salt and pepper into a large pot and cover with water. If you aren't going to thicken, add butter now.
• Bring to the boil and cook until potatoes begin to cook.
• Using the butter and flour make a roux in a small frying pan by melting the butter, stirring in the flour, whisking and cook 1 minute.
• Continue to cook at a simmer until potatoes are just underdone.
• Add the roux and simmer on medium high heat, stirring until quite thick. Add fish and lower heat to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add evaporated milk.
• Lower heat and allow to cook until potatoes are just tender.
• Raise heat to near the boil and turn the heat off. Allow to stand covered most of the day or overnight. Adjust seasoning.
• It can be eaten at this point though I prefer to leave on lowest heat and stir occasionally for an hour then allow to stand all afternoon; overnight is best. I always think most chowders, soups, stews and sauces are best made a day in advance.
• This is at it's very best made a day ahead and slowly reheated. This will not freeze. I prefer cod for the flavor and is most commonly used. There appears to be many steps though all simple. I can throw this together nearly as quick as I can open a can.
• Serve with crackers and sour pickles if you want to go "all New England!".
• VARIATION 1.
• If I am doing clam chowder I use 1 pint of chopped fresh clams or 3-4 small cans of minced clams; using the iquid as part of the water with both fresh and canned clams.
• VARIATION 2.
• For corn chowder I use 2 cans of cream style corn and 1 can of whole kernel corn plus 1 small jar of baby food corn. It really ups the corn flavor.

OLD-FASHIONED NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add the water, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Combine the flour and milk until smooth. Stir into potato mixture along with evaporated milk. Add fish and the remaining butter; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook 5-10 minutes longer or until fish is opaque.

NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Cook onions until tender but not browned. Add the potatoes, salt, pepper and water. Top with fish. Simmer, covered, until potatoes are fork-tender, 20-25 minutes. , In a large saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles form around side of saucepan. Stir in evaporated milk and remaining butter; add to fish and potato mixture. If desired, season with additional salt and pepper. Heat through.

NEW ENGLAND SEAFOOD CHOWDER - THE REAL DEAL

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot, place the fish and stock and bring to a boil. Cover pot and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Remove fish with a slotted spoon and set aside. Remove and reserve the stock.
• In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and saute until tender. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 4 minutes. Add reserved stock and mix well. Add potatoes, bay leaf and parsley and cook until potatoes are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Add scallops and shrimp. Cook until tender. Add clams and lobster and stir well.
• In a saucepan, heat half & half over medium heat until hot and add to the seafood mixture. Cook chowder, stirring frequently until slightly thickened and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle chowder into bowls and garnish with parsley.

CREAMY NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Dice the potatoes and onions. PRO TIP: Keep cut potatoes from discoloring by covering them in cold water until ready for use.
• In a soup pot, melt half the butter over medium-low heat. Add the diced onions and bay leaf and cook, stirring, over medium heat until translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the diced potatoes and add enough water to the pot to cover the potatoes and onions. Cover and gently boil until the potatoes are just fork tender, about 10 minutes.
• Lay the whole fish fillets on top of the potatoes and onion. Add the evaporated milk and the half-and-half or cream. Do not stir. Cover and cook at a simmer, without stirring, for about 15 minutes. Check the pot once or twice to make sure the liquid does not boil.
• Check to make sure that the potatoes have fully softened, and the fish is cooked and flakes apart easily. Add the rest of the butter, the salt, and a good dose of fresh black pepper. Stir gently to combine and break the fish apart a bit. Taste for seasoning.
• Top with fresh minced chives and serve with oyster crackers or hot biscuits.

NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a 2 to 3-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 leaf to the pot and saute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 8 minutes, until the onions are 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't thickened lightly, smash a few of the potato slices against the side of the pot and cook for 1 or 2 minutes longer to release their starch. Reduce the heat to low and season assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost over season 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 is sit for up to 1 hour at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Warm the cracklings in a low oven (200 degrees) 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.

JFK'S NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Simmer haddock in two cups water for 15 minutes, drain. Reserve broth.
• Remove bones from fish.
• Saute diced pork until crisp, remove and set aside.
• Saute onions in pork fat till golden brown.
• Add fish, potatoes, celery, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
• Pour in fish stock, plus enough boiling water to make 3 cups of liquid.
• Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add milk and butter and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Serve chowder sprinkled with pork dice.

PERFECT NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and saute onion, celery and carrot for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Stir in flour.
• Gradually stir in chicken broth.
• Stir over low heat until soup bubbles and thickens slightly.
• Simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in cream and cubes of fish.
• Stir in thyme.
• Simmer for 5 minutes or until cubes of fish are cooked.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve very hot with chowder crackers or a crusty baguette with butter, and fresh snipped lemon thyme for garnish.

CLASSIC NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Fry salt pork or bacon in a large soup kettle or Dutch oven. Remove and set aside. Add onions, potatoes and 5 cups of water to drippings. Cook until potatoes are tender. Add milk, butter, salt and pepper. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook fish in remaining water until tender, about 10 minutes. Add fish and 2 cups of cooking liquid to potato mixture. Heat through. Garnish with parsley and salt pork or bacon.

NEW ENGLAND FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut fillets into 1/2 - 1 inch cubes.
• Fry the bacon until it is crisp.
• Add the onions and brown them slightly.
• Add the potatoes, and water to just cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are slightly tender.
• Add the fish and cook until it flakes easily with a fork.
• Add the milk and seasonings and reheat. Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled over the top.