Creamy Fish Chowder With Bacon, Corn And Spinach

Name: Forget clam chowder. This fish chowder with bacon, corn and spinach is where it's at.
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 small (3 ounces) leek, split lengthwise, rinsed; 2 thick slices bacon, diced (about 2 ounces); 2 tablespoon olive oil; 2 medium (6 ounces total) yellow-skin potatoes, diced; 1 small white onion, diced; 1 large carrot, peeled, diced; 1 small serrano pepper, halved, seeded, minced; 1 quart (32 ounces) seafood stock or chicken broth; 1 cup water; 1 cup frozen corn kernels; 1 cup heavy (whipping) cream; salt, freshly ground pepper; 12 ounce salmon fillet, skinned, cut into ¾-inch pieces; 1 pound bay scallops, rinsed; 1 small bunch fresh spinach, stems trimmed, well rinsed, roughly chopped, about 2 to 3 loosely packed cups; chopped fresh chives; hot red-pepper sauce

JeanMarie Brownson|Sept. 28, 2017 3:13 pm EST

3.8 (8 ratings)

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“Chowder” just might be one of the best food words ever. If you’ve been lucky enough to have a bowl of a well-prepared version, you can conjure the chowder memory just by saying the word. My favorite is always creamy and studded with bacon. Sweet corn doesn’t hurt. This version calls for fresh salmon and bay scallops. I add some lump crab when I want to impress. Sharp, tangy, Louisiana-style red-pepper hot sauce adds kick.The creamy soup base is so good, you could skip the fish and turn it into vegetable chowder simply by doubling the corn and adding some roasted diced red and poblano peppers. For a speedy weeknight chowder, I use canned salmon in place of fresh fish. Better than anything sold at the soup bars at the local grocery stores.

Prep Time

30

minutes

Cook Time

45

minutes

Servings

6

Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 small (3 ounces) leek, split lengthwise, rinsed
2 thick slices bacon, diced (about 2 ounces)
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium (6 ounces total) yellow-skin potatoes, diced
1 small white onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled, diced
1 small serrano pepper, halved, seeded, minced
1 quart (32 ounces) seafood stock or chicken broth
1 cup water
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
salt, freshly ground pepper
12 ounce salmon fillet, skinned, cut into ¾-inch pieces
1 pound bay scallops, rinsed
1 small bunch fresh spinach, stems trimmed, well rinsed, roughly chopped, about 2 to 3 loosely packed cups
chopped fresh chives
hot red-pepper sauce

Directions

Step 1: Remove most of the dark green section of the leek and save for other use. Dice the white and light green portion.
Step 2: Put leek, 2 slices diced bacon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 diced potatoes, diced onion, diced carrot and minced serrano into a large saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until softened, about 10 minutes. Do not brown.
Step 3: Stir in 1 quart seafood stock and 1 cup water. Heat to a boil; reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, stirring often, 20 minutes. (Base can be made several days in advance; refrigerate covered and reheat before continuing to step 4.)
Step 4: Stir in 1 cup corn and 1 cup cream. Simmer over low heat, 5 minutes. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir in 12 ounces salmon and 1 pound bay scallops. Simmer, 2 minutes.
Step 5: Stir in small bunch spinach. Simmer until salmon almost flakes, about 2 more minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh chives. Serve right away with warm bread or oyster crackers. Pass the hot sauce.