Cook a Delicious Seafood Chowder for a Cozy Winter Dinner

2020 has been a rough year! If you are craving comfort food more than ever, you aren’t alone. Stress baking has taken over the internet and social media. What’s better to eat with homemade sourdough or focaccia than chowder? Seafood chowder is the perfect meal to lift your spirits this winter as you settle in for a nice hot cup!

Why Seafood Chowder is the Ultimate Comfort Food

1. It’s creamy and warm. When the temperature drops, there’s nothing better than a bowl of hot, creamy soup to warm you up. Creamy foods—from ice cream to chowder—have a calming effect because they trigger the release of serotonin. (Serotonin is a natural hormone that makes you feel happy and full.)
2. It’s easy to make. Winter makes everyone feel sluggish and unmotivated. You don’t have to work up a lot of energy to prepare seafood chowder. All you have to do is toss the ingredients in a pot and enjoy the aroma as it heats up.
3. It’s a great source of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is a big problem for New Englanders during the winter. It’s tough to get enough of this vital nutrient when the days are short. Sunlight isn’t the only source of vitamin D. You can also get it from fish and shellfish. Seafood chowder is packed with this mood-boosting vitamin!
4. It’s low in calories and packed with nutrients. Most comfort foods, like mac ‘n cheese and pizza, are full of empty calories. Seafood chowder is an exception to this rule. This dish is surprisingly low in calories (just 200 calories per cup) because fish and shellfish are lean proteins. Vitamin D isn’t the only nutrient in seafood chowder. It is also a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and potassium, along with many other vitamins and minerals.

Seafood chowder is the perfect winter comfort food. It’s warmth and creamy texture will raise your temperature and your mood. It’s quick and easy to stew. You won’t blow a thousand calories on this comfort food. It’s low in calories and full of valuable nutrients like vitamin D and omega-3s.

Best Seafood Chowder

If you want a seafood chowder that’s packed with delicious bites of fish and shellfish, look no further than this recipe!

Ingredients

1/2 pound sliced bacon

1 medium onion, diced

6 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed

5 cups broth (seafood or chicken)

1 pound bay or sea scallops, quartered

1 pound lobster meat, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 pounds cod or haddock, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup butter, melted

4 teaspoons salt

4 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced l

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 cups heavy cream

Directions

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat. Once it’s crispy, remove it from the pot with a slotted spoon. Place it on a paper towel but leave the drippings in the pot. Sauté the onions in the drippings until tender. Then stir in the butter, salt, curry powder, and potatoes. Once combined, pour in the broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Add the fish and shellfish. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork, and the shellfish is opaque. Stir in the cream and parsley. Garnish with crumbled bacon bits.

Selecting fresh seafood from a fishmonger that you trust makes all the difference when you make seafood chowder. If you don’t have a go-to fish market, check out City Fish Market on Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, CT! We are known throughout Southern New England for our high-quality seafood.