South Coast Portuguese Fish Chowder |
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Prep Time: 120 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 120 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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by Jasper White from 50 Chowders: One-Pot Meals — Clam, Corn & Beyond (Scribner, 2000) This chowder has a relationship to New Bedford and the area New Englanders call South Coast, which includes that part of southeastern Massachusetts west of Cape Cod and a small piece of eastern Rhode Island. The area is ethnically diverse, with a large Portuguese population, but everyone, even those who aren't Portuguese, loves good food. I served this chowder recently to a group at Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, Rhode Island. As soon as word got out that there waschouriço(a dry, spicy, garlicky Portuguese sausage) in the chowder, the crowd demolished it. Almost everyone in this region loves chouriço, which the locals pronounce shore-ee-soo. All over New England where the Portuguese have settled, chouriço is included in clambakes, clam boils, and other traditional Yankee fare. With its translucent reddish broth and colorful pieces of bell pepper, tomato, chouriço, potato, fish, and cilantro, this Portuguese-style chowder is very enticing. It has a splendid aroma and a savory spicy flavor, making it an interesting and exciting alternative to milder creamy chowders. For equipment, you will need a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot with a lid, a wooden spoon, a slotted spoon, and a ladle. Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil |
2 dried bay leaves |
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped (1 tablespoon) |
2 medium onions, cut into 3/4-inch dice (14 ounces) |
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch dice (6 ounces) |
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice |
2 lbs yukon gold potatoes, maine, pei or 2 lbs other potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/3 inch thick |
4 cups traditional fish stock (as a last resort) or 4 cups water (as a last resort) |
2 cups canned whole tomatoes with juice, cut into 1/2-inch dice (from a 28-ounce can) |
6 ounces spicy portuguese chourico or 6 ounces andouille sausages, casing removed and sliced 1/4 inch thick |
kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper |
2 lbs skinless silver hake, cod, haddock or 2 lbs bass fillets, pinbones removed |
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh italian parsley (to garnish) |
Directions:
1. 1. Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat and add the olive oil and bay leaves. As soon as the bay leaves turn brown, add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 30 seconds or until it is golden. Add the onions, bell pepper, and allspice and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the onions and peppers are softened but not browned.
2. 2. Add the potatoes and stock; if the stock doesn't cover the potatoes, add just enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 10 minutes, until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center.
3. 3. Reduce the heat to medium, add the tomatoes and sausage, and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the mixture assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost overseason the chowder at this point, to avoid having to stir it much once the fish is added).
4. 4. Add the whole fillets and cook for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat, gently stir in the cilantro, and allow the chowder to sit for 10 minutes. (The fish will finish cooking during this time.) If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit for up to an hour at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld.
5. 5. When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boll. Use a slotted spoon to mound the chunks of hake, the chouriço, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls, and ladle the savory tomato broth over. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
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