Embark on a culinary journey to the sunny shores of the Caribbean with our delectable recipe for creamy cracked conch chowder infused with the vibrant flavors of saffron, coconut, and oranges. This tantalizing soup captures the essence of the ocean's bounty, combining tender conch meat with a rich and creamy broth infused with zesty citrus, exotic spices, and a hint of coconut. Prepare to indulge your taste buds in a symphony of flavors that will transport you to a tropical paradise with every spoonful.
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COCONUT CONCH CHOWDER
A creamy chowder that came about on Super Bowl Sunday when I was digging in the freezer for chicken wings and came upon a pound of frozen conch. Very colorful. I used a mango pepper sauce.
Provided by Doug Matthews
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Chowders
Time 1h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Place conch meat in a pot with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook 15 minutes. Drain, and finely chop in a food processor.
- Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in a skillet over medium heat, and mix in the green onions, carrot, celery, sweet potato, red pepper, and corn. Cook and stir 5 minutes.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons margarine in a large pot, and whisk in the flour to create a roux. Pour in the half and half, coconut milk, and fish stock. Mix in the ginger, and season with salt and pepper. Stir the conch and vegetables into the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes. Mix in the hot sauce and cilantro. Continue cooking 15 minutes, or to desired consistency.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 430.1 calories, Carbohydrate 20 g, Cholesterol 81.4 mg, Fat 30.7 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 19 g, Sodium 473.8 mg, Sugar 2.3 g
CREAMY CRACKED CONCH CHOWDER WITH SAFFRON, COCONUT, AND ORANGES
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h40m
Yield about 10 (8-ounce) portions
Number Of Ingredients 36
Steps:
- Shellfish Cream: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the scotch bonnet, shallots, and garlic. Stir. Let the vegetables flavor the oil (about 1 minute). Now add the clams, mussels, star anise, and black pepper. Stir. Now add the orange juice and cover the pot. Remove the clams and mussels as they open to a colander set over a bowl to catch the liquid (they start opening after about 3 minutes, just take them out as they open and cover the pot again and just keep checking for more open ones.) Reserve the shellfish and add the juices back to the pan.
- Allow the orange and shellfish juice to reduce, uncovered, until about 1 cup of liquid remains, about 10 minutes. Now add in the saffron, heavy cream, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Be careful, cream can boil over in a split seconds. Reduce the cream until it will just barely coat the back of a spoon, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain. Discard the solids. Reserve the flavored cream.
- While the cream is reducing, removed the cooled mussels and clams from their shells. Reserve the meat and discard the shells.
- Vegetable Garnish: Put potatoes in a saucepot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil and turn down heat and simmer until just done. Strain off the water. Reserve the potatoes.
- In a large heavy soup pot cook the bacon with the olive oil over medium-high heat until the bacon is halfway cooked. Add the butter and stir. Add the garlic and chiles and stir briefly. Add the rest of the vegetables except the potatoes and stir to coat. Add the salt and pepper, cilantro, and bay leaf. Cook until the vegetables are cooked, but still firm, about 8 minutes.
- Add the reserved potatoes, saffron cream, clams and mussels.
- Conch: Season the conch with salt and pepper. Dredge the conch in the flour, then the egg mixture, and then the panko. Place on a large plate or pan as they are coated. You can layer them if you separate the breaded pieces with waxed paper or plastic wrap.
- To finish the dish: Heat the soup until quite warm. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough canola oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Saute the conch, in batches, adding more oil as necessary, until nicely colored on both sides. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Once the conch is all cooked, chop it into pieces. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and scatter the cooked conch over the soup. Garnish with orange sections, cilantro leaves, and toasted coconut.
NORMAN'S CREAMY CONCH CHOWDER WITH SAFFRON AND TOASTED COCONUT
Steps:
- In a large pot, render the bacon with olive oil. When the bacon is rendered, add the jalapenos, onions, celery, carrots, green peppers, yellow peppers, and banana peppers. Add the crushed red pepper and season with salt and pepper. Add the potatoes, tomatoes and tomato puree. Reduce the heat and add the bay leaves. Tie the fresh herbs in cheese cloth and add to the pot. Whisk in the fish stock, clam juice, and cream. Bring up to the boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Whisk in conch and saffron. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into a shallow bowl and garnish with coconut and chives and Tabasco.
Tips:
- Use fresh seafood: Fresh conch is essential for the best flavor. If you can't find fresh conch, frozen conch will also work, but it won't have the same flavor.
- Crack the conch properly: Cracking the conch properly is essential for removing the meat. Use a heavy mallet or hammer to crack the conch shell, then use a knife to pry the meat out.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe calls for a variety of vegetables, including celery, carrots, onions, and bell peppers. You can also add other vegetables, such as potatoes, corn, or tomatoes.
- Don't overcook the conch: Conch is a delicate meat, so it's important not to overcook it. Otherwise, it will become tough and chewy.
- Add the coconut milk and orange juice at the end: Adding the coconut milk and orange juice at the end helps to preserve their flavor. If you add them too early, they will lose their flavor during cooking.
Conclusion:
Creamy cracked conch chowder with coconut milk, orange juice, and a fragrant blend of spices, is a flavorful and satisfying seafood soup that is a must-try for any seafood lover. With its smooth and creamy texture and delicate balance of flavors, this chowder is sure to warm you up on a cold day or brighten up a summer evening. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice home cook, this recipe is easy to follow and will yield delicious results. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.
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