Gloucester "Old Salt" Fish Chowder

By garciamoss

Ingredients

• 5 thick bacon slices, chopped
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt, plus extra to taste
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups water
• 3 medium-size 'Yukon Gold' potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup cream
• 1-3/4 cups milk
• 1-3/4-2 pounds white fish, such as hake or pollock, cut into 1-inch chunks
• Garnishes: minced fresh chives, chopped bacon

Details

Adapted from yankeemagazine.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove all but 3 tablespoons fat from pot. Remove half the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the remaining bacon in pot. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add onion, salt, and pepper. Cook until onion pieces are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Add flour and stir. Add water, whisking as you go; the flour will dissolve and the mixture will thicken a bit. Add potatoes and cream, increase heat to medium, cover pot, and simmer until potatoes are barely tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add milk. Add fish and cook until opaque, about 5 minutes.
Serve chowder sprinkled with chives and remaining bacon.