My fish chowder for people who don't like "fishy" flavor

[Flukinator]

I know, what's the point in making fish chowder if you don't like fish? Well, some of my family just really doesn't like fish, and some do. So I wanted to make a fish chowder that everyone could eat. It really turned out to be like a potato/bacon chowder with fish in it, and it was delicious! I used a few chowder recipes with my own twists. You could add cheese on top to really mask the fish if you want, but I never took it that far

Scott's Fish Chowder (for people who don't like seafood)

-1/2 pound of good, smoked bacon, cut into small pieces
-1 medium-large sized yellow onion, also cut small
-3 stalks of celery cut small
-3 carrots (going for roughly equal parts celery, onion, and carrot) cut small
-several sprigs of fresh thyme
-2 pounds of cleaned fish fillets, patted dry with paper towel, cut bite-size (I used ling, seabass, and blackfish)
-2 quarts of chicken broth/stock
-2 pounds of potatoes (any potato with a thin skin), peeled, chunked bite-size
-1-2 tablespoons butter
-pint of half and half
-3 tablespoons flour

Cooking:


-Put bacon in large soup pot (at least 4 qt.), med-high heat until it shrinks and starts getting brown and crispy. Leave bacon in pot, and drain off MOST of the bacon grease, leaving enough to cook veggies.
-Add celery, carrots, and onion to pot. Sautee until all veggies start to soften, but aren't fully cooked. Add salt and a good amount of cracked black pepper.
-add potatoes, stir for a minute, then add chicken broth
-stir until broth just starts to boil, then lower heat to medium. if it starts to boil more, lower the heat a tiny bit. (you want a simmer, like a pasta sauce. not a rolling boil like pasta.)
-add sprigs of thyme. I put them in whole for about 2 minutes, then took them out and stripped the tiny leaves off the sprigs, putting the "leaves" in the soup and throwing the stems away.
-now in seperate container, microwave butter for 30-40 seconds until melted. Add flour and stir thoroughly. Add a tablespoon of half and half to thin it a bit. have this on the side.
-Test potatoes for doneness. When they are JUST shy of being fully soft and done, add fish.
-fish should cook in about 2 minutes. so after 2 minutes, add about half of the pint of half and half, and all of the flour/butter mixture. Stir slowly and gently. If you want it creamier, add more half and half. If you want it thicker, add more flour and stir gently.

When everything's fully stirred and incorporated, serve it. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving. And of course take a test spoonful with a piece of fish and potato to make sure both are done. They should be. If you like fish/seafood, use clam juice and fish stock in place of the chicken stock.

[jmurr711]

try it with pout dead serious not fishy and holds up amazing

[Flukinator]

I'll save a couple next time and give that a try. This recipe works with any sort of bottom fish. I think the ling I used just ended up turning into tiny fish pieces(which gave good texture, actually), and the seabass and blackfish held up very well chunked. I might have to change the name of this chowder to "clean out the freezer before next season chowder," because that's exactly what it was.

[Chris1129]

Tried this recipe tonight. Got rid of some striper left over from freezer from May. Printed out instructions gave to wife....she went to store, bought ingredients and came home and started cooking. It took rather long, but the results were fantastic. Tasted great. Hard to tell there was even fish in the chowder. I loved it. I had two big bowls. Can't wait to eat the leftovers. See pics below......

[dboyd101]

oh wow - looks awesome!

[Flukinator]

Looks great! Glad my little idea from last winter worked out for someone else. Any leftover "white meat" fish should work. I'll have to try it with striper (if I actually catch any)!

It does take a while, but I definitely think it's worth it

[Zupa da Bass]

I wanna thank the Flukinator for posting this recipe. I was lucky enough to come home with my limit of nice bruiser Togs from RI last week. I made a few minor changes to it and I made my own fish stock with the Tog racks in place of chicken stock. It's a great tasty chowda. I know I'll be makin this every fall. Thanks again

[parker pete sportfishing]

What was the best way to make your stock with the blackfish rack?

[kurtisb]

Made this yesterday, went half clam juice and half chicken stock. It was delicious and much to my surprise, the grandchildren loved it. The chicken stock really makes a difference for those that don't like fish.

[Chico]

"Good food takes time to prepare",(" I can have yours done in a minute")
Good recipe. EXCELLENT with tilefish as it really hold up firmly.