Boston Seafood Chowder

My father cooked the Boston seafood chowder! He brought the recipe to Boston from his birthplace in Islesboro, Maine. I remember the tantalizing  smell as Dad carefully blended ingredients.

Ingredients for Seafood Chowder:

• 1/4 lb. salt pork
• 2 big onions sliced
• 2 to 3 cups of raw potatoes (also sliced, never cubed)
• 2 cups of water
• 2 lbs haddock or cod
• salt to taste and 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2 to 3 cups rich milk or par “coffee cream”

Directions:

1. Fry salt pork in heavy kettle. Remove pork scraps and set aside.
2. Cook onions in remaining fat until golden. Add potatoes and water.
3. Place fish fillets on top of potatoes. Season. Cover and cook on low heat until potatoes are fairly soft and fish flakes.
4. Pour milk and heat, but DO NOT boil. Avoid stirring (so fish won’t break up too much) and serve with “common” crackers. These crackers are still available from Vermont Common Foods. Sprinkle reserved crisp pork bits on top of chowder.