This hearty, rich, delicious, and easy to make Smoked Seafood Chowder is an excellent way to bid farewell to the winter.
Hello all. We did it (again). We’ve survived this winter. While I don’t mind the winter time at all (I believe each season has it beautiful advantages), as a human being I am super excited about spring. Also, as a food blogger, I am pumped about all this natural light.
Isn’t it a great reason to make this Smoked Seafood Chowder and celebrate the end of the comfort food season? Let’s get this straight. I don’t mind having comfort food any time of the year, and indeed we do occasionally have more substantial meals throughout spring and summer. But of course, that depends on the type of food. Pasta or pizza in summer? Certainly! Chicken soup or chowder? Probably not (On a side note, this Smoked Seafood Chowder is so delicious that I will probably not be able to refuse it even on a sweltering day.)
I’ve been experimenting with smoked seafood lately, and one day I thought: “Smoked Seafood Chowder. Why not!”
This is a super easy recipe which requires from you just maybe 30 minutes from start to finish as most of the ingredients are already fully cooked.
On the other hand, the fact that we use mostly cooked ingredients slightly affect the flavour as the broth is more delicate than with a traditional chowder. To create a stronger flavour profile, I used both smoked mussels and oysters as the main component. I also incorporated some smoked halibut which had a lovely smoked flavour as well as chewy texture, but feel free to use any available smoked fish (If you’d like to use salmon, I suggest using hot-smoked salmon; I don’t think cold-smoked salmon would be an excellent choice, but of course you can try). Besides, I used a jar of clam juice which enhanced the flavour, too. And don’t be afraid to stir in smoked paprika and lots of fresh thyme. They do make the difference. Lastly, don’t fully drain the mussels and oysters – reserve some oil as it is very aromatic.
Is anything else I can say? Embrace the remaining days of this winter and make this Smoked Seafood Chowder. If you try it, let me know in this post or send me an Instagram message or share you photos adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. You might also like this Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder, Creamy Salmon Chowder, and Butternut Squash Mussel Chowder.
Cheers.
Smoked Seafood Chowder
Notes
havocinthekitchen.com
Ingredients
- 500-600 gr.any white fish (filets), cut in medium pieces – tilapia used here
- 300-400 gr. smoked fish, cut in small pieces – haddock used here
- 3-4 tins (about 85 gr each) smoked mussels and (or) oysters, drained but 3-4 tbsp. oil reserved
- 4-5 medium potatoes, pilled and cubed
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (about 200 ml.) clam juice
- 2 cups 18% cream
- 1/2 cup 35% cream
- 1 tbsp.fresh thyme + more to garnish
- 1/2 to 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- white pepper, to taste
- pinch peppercorns, crushed, to taste
- salt if necessary
Instructions
- In a pot heat 4 tbsp. of the reserved oil and cook the onions and garlic, 5 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and cook about 5 minutes, stirring, until potatoes start turning lightly golden.
- Add the clam juice and between 1 to 2 cups of water just to cover the potatoes (The consistency will be adjusted later). Stir in the thyme and spices. Cover and let simmer 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are almost soft.
- Add the cream and bring to a delicate boil
- Add the white fish and cook about 5 minutes, until ready (It will be flaky).
- Stir in the mussels and (or) oysters and smoked fish and cook 2-3 minutes
- Try and season with some salt if needed. If the chowder is too thick, you can add more light cream or milk or even warm water and heat it through.
- Serve with some extra thyme and crispy bread.
- Enjoy!
Hi – I’m Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.
My wife and children love this recipe. They often request it when I am going to do a grocery shop. We get smoked trout from Trader Joes. I will often use more chicken broth less water and potatoes. Thank you for sharing this with us, Ben!
Michael recently posted…Golden Syrup Substitute That You Can Easily Find
Wow look at that bowl of delicious smoked seafood chowder! I love how you’ve used all sorts of different fish and shellfish too. We’re lucky living here in Scotland in that I can get good quality seafood and making a dish like this will be easy because I can get all the ingredients. Thanks for this excellent recipe Ben!
This is totally bringing back the cosy vibes I had when I first tried chowder in Canada last year. My love for chowder is now very strong and I’ll always have a nostalgic mood when I eat it. I’d love to try your recipe and I’m pretty sure I could enjoy this any time of year.
Marie recently posted…Chocolate Coconut Brownies Recipe
I’m so excited for spring! The days finally seem like they’re getting longer and I’m very happy about it. And this chowder sounds like a great way to deal with the still-sort-of chilly evenings :). Have a great weekend, Ben!
Happy Spring, Ben!! I’m with you, there is something I love about each season, and I’m super excited for all the light and beautiful, colorful produce that comes with the spring season! BUT, this chowder is a wonderful send off to winter! I mean, it is still chilly here, so I need to stay warm! And, I can’t think of a better way to cozy up than with a bowl full of this deliciousness! I’m with David, please pass me a bowl!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Easy Apricot Chicken Recipe
Oh, I hope winter is over! We still have some lingering snow on the ground, but I don’t think there is any more in the forecast. I’m ready for some warm days! Like you, I believe each season has its advantages, but I’m just a little tired of winter at this point. It’s still chilly in the evenings here, so the thought of this smoked seafood chowder is quite appetizing. You know me…I love smoked flavor! Pass me a bowl and spoon? :-)
David @ Spiced recently posted…Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins