Healthy Fish Recipes

Healthy fish recipes are be hard to come by, especially if you are a chowder fan. Chowder can be an indulgence–it’s creamy and super-filling–but the dish can be surprisingly healthy, if you make it right.

This version is a fish chowder made with halibut for a lean protein boost. Still, it wouldn’t be chowder without some comforting creaminess and smoky bacon. We’ve got that covered: In this dish you’ll find a milk base, salty bacon, and plenty of healthy veggies, like carrots, potatoes, and onions.

This chowder makes for a cozy meal on a chilly day, and one you can feel good about.

Healthy Fish Recipes Have Health Benefits

Also, healthy fish recipes have many health benefits. Halibut is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which protect your heart and fight inflammation. The dish also boasts vitamin B and folic acid and gets another healthy boost from its herb component, thyme, which may help fight off coughs and sore throats.

Additionally, the potatoes add fiber to your diet to help fill you up. Another benefit of soup? You have to slow down to eat it when it’s hot, so it may help you be more mindful about how much you’re eating. Plus, its warmth creates a sense of calm. Making chowder can be fun, too–a perfect activity for a day inside when the weather is bad, with a delicious reward at the end. Your kitchen will smell great, and you’ll have plenty to share or keep as leftovers.

Making your own soup also means you don’t have to rely on the processed, canned stuff, which is often laden with salt. You’ll know exactly what’s in the version you create. It’s even tastier if you enjoy it curled up on the couch with a good book, some oyster crackers, and hot tea.

Healthy Fish Chowder

Ingredients (serves 10)

• 4 1/2 cups water

• 4 bay leaves

• 1 1/2 pounds halibut fillets or other firm white fish, skinned

• 3 slices bacon, uncooked

• 3 1/2 cups cubed peeled baking potato

• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion (about 1 large)

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped carrot (about 1 medium)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon salt, divided

• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

• 4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

• 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

1. Bring 4 1/2 cups water and bay leaves to a simmer in a large skillet. Add fish; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

2. Remove fish from pan with a slotted spoon. Cut fish into large pieces.
3. Reserve 2 1/2 cups cooking liquid and bay leaves.

4. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan; crumble bacon, and set aside.

5. Add potato, onion, and carrot to pan; cook over medium heat 10 minutes.

6. Add reserved cooking liquid, bay leaves, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil.

7. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes.

8. Add milk and butter; simmer 25 minutes until potatoes are tender (do not boil).

9. Stir in fish, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

10. Discard bay leaves.

11. Sprinkle with bacon.

Nutritional Information (per 1 cup chowder & 1 teaspoon bacon serving)

• Calories per serving 242

• Fat per serving 8.6g

• Protein per serving 21.8g

• Carbohydrate per serving 18.4g