Smoked Salmon Chowder

Updated Oct. 25, 2023

Smoked Salmon Chowder
Marcus Nilsson for The New York Times; Food Stylist: Suzanne Lenzer. Prop Stylist: Theo Vamvounakis.
Total Time
1 hour 10 minutes
Rating
5(326)
Comments
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There is a recipe for lox chowder in Mark Russ Federman’s charming memoir of his family's appetizing business on the Lower East Side of Manhattan: “Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes From the House That Herring Built.” I put a version of it into The Times in 2013. The soup tastes best made with the store's smoked salmon trimmings, which offer a lot of fatty, flavorful bits from up around the fish’s collar (and cheap, too!), but a number of test runs using supermarket smoked salmon offered evidence that the soup is still terrific when made outside the five boroughs of New York City, with a fantastic smokiness tempered by the sweet flavors of potato and leek. —Sam Sifton

Featured in: Such a Chowder!

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1medium leek, cleaned, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 1medium carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1rib celery, trimmed and diced
  • 1clove garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1large, starchy potato, peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 2teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼cup all-purpose flour
  • ½cup dry white wine
  • cups chicken stock, either homemade or low-sodium
  • 1bay leaf
  • 2cups whole milk
  • 4ounces smoked salmon, flaked
  • ¾cup heavy cream
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh chives, minced, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

314 calories; 19 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 22 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 8 grams sugars; 10 grams protein; 275 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Melt the butter with the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot set over medium heat. Add leek, carrot and celery, and cook until the vegetables have softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, potato and thyme, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, an additional 2 or 3 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture and stir to combine, then cook, stirring often, for approximately 5 minutes, making sure not to scorch the bottom of the pan.

  3. Step 3

    Add the wine, chicken stock and bay leaf, and bring mixture to a simmer. After 10 minutes or so, stir in the milk, and return to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender, approximately 25 minutes. Add the salmon and stir gently, allowing the fish to warm but making sure that the mixture does not boil.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the bay leaf and discard. Add the cream, then stir to combine and heat through. Season to taste with pepper. Garnish with minced chives.

Ratings

5 out of 5
326 user ratings
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Comments

I served this recipe at a New Years soup party this year. This is a ruthlessly competitive annual event, where a bunch of friends spend all year secretly planning what they'll submit. My soup was "Bagels and Lox," this recipe for salmon chowder served with roasted caper-pumpernickel croutons. Came home with lots of hardware - medals for seafood, chowder, most original, and trophy for #2 best overall soup. Thanks, Sam!

Lacking a few ingredients but inspired by Chopped, I substituted half of a large chopped onion for the leek; a chopped parsnip for the carrot; 2 ribs of celery instead of one; seafood broth instead of chicken; and leftover grilled salmon in lieu of lox. Oh, and leftover mashed potatoes instead of a raw one.I also sprinkled some packaged mashed potato flakes to thicken a bit more. Added more salt and pepper and herbs. Delicious!

Ummmm, this can't be marked kosher because it calls for cream and chicken broth. Will vegetable stock work well as a substitute?

Followed recipe pretty much adding some extra herbs and garlic. Delicious, perfect on this weirdly chilly May evening!

Has anyone tried subbing potato gnocchi for the potato?

Great recipe! I would adjust the amount of broth/stock next time as I felt it was a bit thick with the amount of stock vs cream/milk. Also added an additional garlic clove for family preference. Used great hot smoked salmon - I think that makes a big difference.

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Credits

Adapted from Russ & Daughters, New York.

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