Authentic New England, from an old Cape Cod recipe…easy, delicious and pretty darn quick to pull together!
Going way back, Cape Cod had very strong Portuguese roots and many favorite New England and Cape Cod recipes had their beginnings in that community. They were fabulous fishermen and they were also incredible cooks. Their meals were usually very simple, very economical, full of flavor and this one is no exception. To be honest, although I love New England clam chowder, I actually prefer this simple fish chowder, it’s just soothing comfort food that reminds me of my childhood, when it was a frequent meal.
Any mild white fish will work well in this recipe. Whether you like a thin or thick broth, the choice is yours, but do yourself a favor and just try this. Even if you think you don’t like fish chowder, I urge you to make this and please do let me know your thoughts.
INGREDIENTS
3 Tbs. butter, split
1/3 cup sliced onion
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups chopped potatoes (about 4)
1 lb. haddock or any mild, white fish
2 tsp. corn starch or flour
3 cups whole milk, use cream if you prefer a thicker broth
salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
First, sauté onion in 1 tablespoon of butter. Then, add water and potatoes. Next, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Then, cut the fish into chunks and add to the pot.
Next, make a paste with the corn starch/flour and a little of the milk, stirring to combine until smooth. Then, add the mixture to the pot. After you have thoroughly incorporated the flour mixture, add the rest of the milk and stir to combine. Finally, bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately lower the heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. This will thicken the broth slightly. Just before serving, add the remaining 2 Tbs. of butter, give it a minute to melt and serve.
NOTES
If you prefer a thicker broth, you can definitely use light cream, half and half, or a combination light/heavy cream. You could also use a 2% milk, however it will be a much thinner broth. Play around with the options and find what works best for you.
