It’t getting cold outside. There is nothing better than a hearty bowl of soup and a roaring fire on days where it is cold and damp. This recipe is also great because the seafood is substitutable. You don’t have to use halibut and lobster, but instead try salmon, sea bass, shrimp, scallops, haddock, and cod that have been plank grilled. (not all at once, or yeah maybe try it…) Let us just say this, that this is not your New England chowder, but something much more!

METHOD
Dill Pesto:

1. In a food processor or blender, combine the dill, olive oil, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, garlic and pine nuts. Purée until smooth; set aside.

The Chowder:

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Mix together the lobster, shallots, Seafood Plank Seasoning, lemon juice and lemon zest. Place the halibut onto the plank and spread lobster mixture evenly over the halibut.
2. Place the plank onto the grill and close the lid. Plank bake for 20 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove from grill and allow to cool to room temperature; set aside.
3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the ham, garlic, onion, celery, leek and potatoes. Sauté ham and vegetables for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender. Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
4. Add the chicken stock a little at a time, stirring well after each addition until mixture is smooth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender.
5. Stir in cream and return to a slow boil. Cut the cooled, planked halibut into ½-inch chunks. Gently stir the fish into the chowder. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with reserved dill mixture and serve immediately with crusty bread.

I am not convinced when it comes to seafood yet. Not entirely anyway. Still not quite as adventurous as I should be, I guess. But if you are not a seafood lover, why not make this into a chicken and ham chowder? Smoke some of that leftover turkey on a plank and use that instead? The best part of any soup is that you can turn it into something all your own with just a simple substitution. Although there is one thing you cannot substitute when having this… the bread. Fresh baked, crusty loaf with a thick smear of butter.

Happy Grilling!