Monks' Famous Seafood Chowder

By
Brett Moore
Brett Moore
Brett Moore
Before becoming a food writer, Brett Moore earned a culinary degree and worked as a professional chef.
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Updated on 08/29/19
Seafood chowder
Darling Kindersley
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings

The Irish certainly know their seafood! Here is a quick and easy way to prepare a great seafood chowder. Fresh mussels, fish, and shrimp, and a mix of vegetables are simmered in a broth of fish stock, milk, and cream—a hearty, satisfying chowder with lots of flavors! Any hearty fleshed fish can be used and feel free to substitute clams for the mussels if you like.

This chowder is excellent as a meal with some good bread and a salad or as a starter for your next dinner party.

Monks Bar and Restaurant is a famous Irish landmark in the village of Ballyvaughan, in County Clare, located in the West of Ireland.

Ingredients

  •  8 to 10 fresh mussels, (scrubbed and cleaned; discard any that are open)*
  • 1-pint fish stock or clam juice
  • 1-pint milk
  • 1-pint heavy cream
  • 1/2 lb. total mixed fresh diced carrots, diced green beans, peas, and corn
  • 1 tbsp. cornstarch (dissolved in 3 to 4 tbsps. water)
  • 1 lb. mixed fresh fish fillets (such as hake, cod, haddock or salmon, cut into coarse chunks)
  • 1/4 lb. fresh shrimp (peeled, deveined and cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces)
  • Garnish: Lemon wedges

Steps to Make It

  • A Note About Mussels:  The shells of fresh mussels should be closed before they are cooked. If you have any with open shells, tap its shell and it should close. Even if it closes slowly, it's alive. Any mussels that won't close are dead and should be discarded.

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Bring 1/4-inch water with a splash of white wine to a boil in a small sauce saucepan.

  3. Add mussels, cover, and steam until just open, about 2 to 3 minutes. Try not to overcook the mussels as they tend to get rubbery in texture with too much heat.

  4. Remove mussels with a slotted spoon and when cool, remove from shells, coarsely chop and set aside.

  5. Combine the fish stock (or clam juice) and milk in a large pot and bring to a simmer.

  6. Add the mixed vegetables and simmer until just beginning to soften about 6 to 8 minutes.

  7. Add the fish and shrimp and simmer until almost cooked through about 3 to 4 minutes.

  8. Stir in the cream, then slowly stir in the cornstarch/water mixture to thicken. Simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors.

  9. Remove from heat.

  10. Add mussels, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve in soup bowls garnished with a wedge of lemon.

  11. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
789 Calories
45g Fat
33g Carbs
62g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 789
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 45g 58%
Saturated Fat 21g 106%
Cholesterol 265mg 88%
Sodium 696mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Protein 62g
Calcium 413mg 32%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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