Creamy Seafood Chowder with Curry

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup chopped leeks (white and light green parts only)
1 medium fennel bulb, halved, center cores removed, and bulb cut into 1/2 inch dice to make 1 cup (Save extras for another use.)
3/4 teaspoon curry powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more if needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 medium clove garlic, finely grated
2 cups reduced sodium chicken stock
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup half and half
12 ounces white fish such as cod, halibut, or haddock fillets cut 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick

Garnish
4 tablespoons homemade toasted breadcrumbs (Recipe follows.)
2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley
1 teaspoon lemon zest

1.Melt butter in a heavy, large (4 quart) pot (with a lid) set over medium low heat. Add the leeks and chopped fennel. Stir while cooking to prevent burning until vegetables are softened, 4 to 5 minutes.

2.Stir in curry powder, salt, pepper, thyme, and grated garlic. Add stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover pot with lid and simmer 15 minutes.

3.Remove lid and whisk in milk and half and half. Bring to a simmer and then add fish fillets, making certain they are covered with broth. Cook until fish is opaque and flakes easily when cut with a knife, 4 to 5 minutes. With a fork, break fish fillets into small chunks. Taste, and if needed season chowder with more salt and black pepper.

4.While fish is simmering, combine breadcrumbs, lemon zest, and parsley in a small bowl for the garnish.

5.To serve, ladle soup into four soup bowls and sprinkle each serving generously with some of the breadcrumb mixture. Serves 4.

Toasted Breadcrumbs
Half of a good-quality peasant or country bread (sourdough works particularly well) with crusts removed and discarded and bread torn into pieces
1 tbsp olive or canola oil

1.In a food processor, process enough bread pieces to make 1 cup coarse crumbs.

2.Heat the oil in a medium, heavy frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the crumbs and cook, stirring constantly, until they are crisp and rich golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. (Breadcrumbs can be stored in a plastic self-sealing bag and refrigerated for up to one week.)

Makes about 1 cup

Copyright Betty Rosbottom 2022