Vera's Seafood Chowder

(recipe from the "Easy Food" magazine)

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 1 tbsp softened butter
• 1 small onion, cut into 1 cm dice
• ½ small leek, cut into 1 cm dice
• 1 carrot ,cut into 1 cm dice
• 2 celery sticks,cut into 1 cm dice
• 2 large potatoes,cut into 1 cm dice
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 150 ml dry white wine
• 300 ml fish stock
• 100 gr skinned salmon fillet, cut into cubes
• 100 gr natural smoked haddock or cod fillet, skinned and cut into cubes
• 100 gr cooked mussel meat
• 100 gr prawns, cooked and peeled
• 100 ml cream
• 1 tsp fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped plus extra to garnish
• 1 tsp dill, chopped
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Step One

 Heat the oil in a large pot and add the butter. Once it stops sizzling, tip in the onion, leek, carrot, celery and potatoes and sauté over a medium heat for five minutes, until softened but not coloured. Add the flour and cook on a low heat for two minutes, stirring continuously. Season to taste.

Step Two

 Pour the wine into the pot and allow it to bubble down, stirring continuously, then add the stock, reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes.

Step Three

 Stir in the salmon and smoked haddock or cod and simmer for five minutes, then add the mussel meat, prawns and cream and simmer for another 2-3 minutes, until warmed through. Stir in the herbs and season to taste.

Step Four

 To serve, ladle the soup in warmed bowls and garnish with some extra parsley. Serve with a separate basket of the brown wheat bread and a pot of butter.

Poftă Bună!!!