A delicious treat of Irish cuisine is a creamy Irish Seafood Chowder, a soup made with mixed seafood and fish. Being an island surrounded by ocean, Ireland is lucky to have access to fresh fish and seafood. This makes this recipe a must-try for anyone that likes seafood and creamy soups. This recipe combines the best of both worlds.
It is especially good to eat it when it’s cold outside, it will warm you up. It’s easy to make, you can add whatever seafood or fish mix you want and have available, and to complement it accompany it with soda bread slices and butter. It is very delicious and filling!
There are different versions, we share with you one of many, enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil
- 100g streaky bacon, finely chopped
- 225g onions, finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 450g potatoes, peeled and finely chopped
- 500ml fish stock
- 300ml milk
- 700g mixed white fish cut into small pieces
- 90g smoked cod or haddock
- 150ml cream
- 700g mussels, cockles clams, lightly cooked and shelled
- 225g prawns, scallops, shrimps lightly cooked and shelled
- Plenty of fresh parsley, chives, finely chopped
- Salt, pepper, thyme
Method
- Melt the butter in a large pot and cook the bacon until crisp. Add the onions until translucent.
- Add the potatoes, fish stock, bay leaves, and milk and simmer until the potatoes are tender. You can also use a fork to mash them so it thickens the liquid.
- Add the fish and simmer for 2-3 minutes
- Add the cream and simmer for 30sec-1min.
- Finally add the shellfish (prawns, etc.)
- As soon as the soup reaches the simmering point again, remove it from the heat.
- Season to taste with salt, pepper. Add chives, herbs, etc, and serve with slices of wholemeal bread.
Seafood chowder in Ireland is considered a starter in pubs and restaurants. It is common to find that in pubs around Ireland they replace the fish with salmon, which is done because salmon is cheaper. If you do this as well, don’t add the same amount of salmon as white fish because the taste of salmon is stronger and it will overwhelm the more delicate flavors.
For other fish starter ideas, you can also try some yummy Portuguese codfish fritters.
