Ann Pachetts Spicy Seafood Chowder

PERUVIAN SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Mince the garlic and chile pepper. Sprinkle with salt and mash with the flat side of a chef's knife to make a paste. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic-chile paste and half of the scallions and fry until the paste is golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the shrimp shells and corn cobs and cook, stirring, until the shells are red, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add 6 cups water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 15 minutes. Strain the broth and return to the pot; discard the solids.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, the remaining scallions and the corn kernels; cook until the corn is golden, about 12 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and stir, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon. Transfer the corn mixture to a blender; add 1 1/2 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt and puree until smooth. Add the pureed mixture to the pot with the broth.
• Add the squash, potato and evaporated milk to the pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Add the mussels to the pot, cover and cook until they begin to open, about 4 minutes. Add the shrimp and flounder and simmer, stirring gently, until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently stir in the egg yolks and cook 1 minute, then remove from the heat, cover and let stand 3 minutes. Season with salt and top with the cilantro.

SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut the shrimp, scallops, and monkfish into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl with the crabmeat.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter; add the carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, and corn and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are barely cooked, stirring occasionally. Add the flour; reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the Seafood Stock and bring to a boil. Add the seafood; reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 7 to 10 minutes, until the fish is just cooked. Add the heavy cream, if desired, and the parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
• Warm the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery and saute for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add 1 1/2 quarts of water, the white wine, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. You can make up the difference with water or wine if you need to.

BEST SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large soup kettle or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels; reserve drippings. Saute onions in drippings until tender. Add potatoes and water; bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes., Add the scallops, lobster, shrimp, cod and haddock. Cook for 10 minutes or until scallops are opaque, shrimp turn pink and fish flakes easily with a fork. Add the butter, salt, parsley and curry powder. Stir in milk and evaporated milk; heat through. Garnish with bacon, additional parsley, and oyster crackers, if desired.

MOM'S NOVA SCOTIA SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Fill a large pot halfway with lightly salted water; bring to a boil. Add onions and carrots; cook until slightly tender, 10 minutes. Add potatoes; cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in salmon, cod, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and crab; cook over medium heat until salmon and cod are firm but chunks are still slightly translucent in the center, about 10 minutes. Drain half the water from the pot and add clams, heavy cream, and half-and-half. Place butter chunks atop the soup; season with salt and black pepper. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until salmon and cod are fully cooked and flake easily with a fork, about 30 minutes.

DANIELLE'S SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt butter with olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat; stir in onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk flour into butter mixture; whisk in half-and-half and juice from drained clams.
• Stir Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into onion mixture until melted, about 2 minutes; stir in potatoes, cream-style corn, corn kernels, and cherry tomatoes. If soup is very thick, stir in water, about 1/2 cup at a time, as desired; bring soup to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Season with sea salt and pepper.
• Stir drained clams, haddock, and shrimp into soup; simmer until haddock and shrimp are fully cooked for 5 minutes. Stir in lobster and its juice; cook just until heated through.

SPICY SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Chop the raw bacon into small pieces and fry in a large stock pot. When crisp, drain bacon and grease. Reserve 1 tablespoon in pot.
• add 1 tablespoon butter.
• Saute oinion in the fat on med/med low till tender and onion starts to carmelize, 10-15 minutes.
• Turn up heat to med/ medium high. Add carrots, celery and jalepeno. Saute till soft.
• Add potatoes, corn, spices and stock. Simmer till potatoes are soft. You can stop at this point and finish the soup at a later time if you like.
• Add seafood and cream. Heat till seafood is warmed through, but take care not to overcook.
• Enjoy with some good bread.

ANN PACHETT'S SPICY SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-heat. Add onion, celery, and green pepper; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add basil, thyme, oregano, and dried crushed red pepper; sauté 1 minute. Stir in bottled clam juice and tomato sauce; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. (Broth can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Meanwhile, cook orzo in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse under cold water until cool. Drain well.
• Add shrimp and scallops to broth; simmer until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Stir in orzo and clams with juices; simmer until clams are just heated through. Divide chowder among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

MANHATTAN SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cut bacon into small pieces and fry in pan.
• Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
• Saute celery, red bell pepper, onions and garlic in small amount of bacon grease for several minutes to sweat.
• Add fish and lightly sear.
• Add water or chicken broth and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, clam juice, clams and simmer for 1 hour.
• Add potatoes and carrots.
• Season with paprika, red pepper flakes, Old Bay, oregano and hot sauce.
• Simmer until potatoes and carrots are almost tender.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add shrimp 15 minutes before serving.