Chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation. ~Clementine Paddleford
Could this be any more true? I never really knew how much I liked seafood chowder before I met ol’ Chuckles. It’s one of his favorites, so of course I had to learn how to make it for him!
There couldn’t have been a more perfect fall afternoon for it. We had spent most of the day outside and gotten rained on here and there. We were a little chilled and tired after an eventful weekend, so tired in fact that I fell asleep in the car on the way home. I woke up when “All my Life” by The Band Perry came on the radio. Seriously I will never get enough of that song.
As I serenaded Chuck the rest of the ride home we swung into the grocery store and picked up some clams, cod, and a small loaf of fresh baked French bread. As a side I sliced, the bread and brushed it with olive oil, garlic and rosemary. Then popped it in the oven for a while (10-20 minutes depending on size) at 425 degrees. The burst of rosemary flavor blended so beautifully with the creamy deliciousness of the chowder that I jam packed with seafood.
Seafood Chowder
¼ lb bacon, cut into ¼ inch cubes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 ½ cups chopped celery
1 quart fish stock
2 large potatoes, peeled & chopped
2 bay leaves
1 lb little neck clams
1 lb skinless, boneless cod fillet, cut into chucks
1 lb medium shrimp, shelled, deveined
½ cup frozen corn
1 cup heavy cream
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper to taste
In a large sauce pan or dutch oven cook bacon, and drain grease. Add olive oil and heat for roughly 5 minutes. Add onion and celery, cooking until soft. Add fish stock and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, and add potatoes, cooking until they are just tender, roughly 15 minutes. Add shrimp, clams, fish and corn. Simmer for another 5 minutes. All the clams should open. Heat cream in a small sauce pan over low heat, and add to soup pot. Add final seasoning and serve hot.
I love this recipe as is with exception of wheat flour… but we live on a tiny peninsula that requires shopping for fresh fish in Canada or traveling through Canada and back into the States to our fresh fish 'monger'. A whole day's excursion so… I most often use Trader Joe's Seafood Blend as I usually have a couple packages in my freezer. Not as pretty but still delicious. Thanks for this recipe, so good and easy.
Are you gluten free? DO you have another suggestion that might be good. And wow that's a big trip for fresh fish!
Thank you so much! I <3 The Band Perry, but I'm a nerd who loves violin and banjo music. Welcome!
What a lovely presentation! I'm glad it turned out so nice.
Haven't heard of Band Perry, but I'm curious enough to Youtube it now. 🙂
Found you on the Friday Chaos hop. Happy weekend!