Dinner · Lunch · Fish

New England Fish Chowder

A creamy, old-fashioned chowder of tender cod, potatoes and a little bacon.

⏱ 50 min (15 min prep, 35 min cooking) 🍽 Serves 6 · about 1 1/2 cups leftovers
📅 Add to my plan

ContainsMilk, Fish, Wheat. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 6 servings

  • Chowder

  • 4 strip Bacon, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Butter, salted
  • 1 Yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 stalk Celery, chopped
  • 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
  • 3 cup Chicken broth
  • 1½ lb Yellow (Yukon-type) potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
  • ½ tsp Dried thyme
  • 1 leaf Bay leaves
  • ½ tsp Table salt
  • ¼ tsp Ground black pepper
  • 1½ lb Cod fillets, skinless, cut in 1 1/2-inch chunks
  • 1½ cup Half-and-half
  • 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped

Make it yourself

Make the butter yourself → Make the chicken stock yourself →

In the planner, Make it on the shopping list swaps the store item for these ingredients and puts the work on your prep day.

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: large soup pot, wooden spoon, instant-read thermometer.

  1. Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. Lift it out, leaving the fat.
  2. Add the butter, onion and celery and cook 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the flour for 1 minute.
  3. Slowly stir in the broth, then add the potatoes, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
  4. Add the cod and simmer gently 5 to 6 minutes, until it reaches 145°F and flakes easily.
  5. Stir in the half-and-half and heat until steaming; do not boil. Remove the bay leaf and top with bacon and parsley.

🌡 Safe temperaturesFish 145°F. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer (USDA). More on food safety.

Make aheadMake through step 3 up to 2 days ahead. Bring back to a simmer, then add the fish and cream.
↺ LeftoversReheat gently to 165°F without boiling, so the fish stays in pieces.
🧒 With kidsServe with oyster crackers. Check the cod for any stray bones.
Gluten-free swapLeave out the flour and mash a few of the cooked potato cubes into the broth to thicken it; check the broth and bacon labels.

Goes well with

🥬 Simple Green Salad🌽 Cornbread Muffins

Good to know

Cooking Fats Compared Salted vs. unsalted butter All-purpose vs. bread flour (and friends) Stock vs. broth Fresh vs. dried herbs Table salt vs. kosher salt vs. sea salt Heavy cream vs. half-and-half Food Safety Basics

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.

@teddyrookbook GitHub Sources and credits