Chunky Bermudan Fish Chowder

Sagadahoc's Note:

The first recipe I've contributed. This has become a household favorite and good for guests. I found it in Julia Aiken's cookbook Easy Entertaining, where she explains that she's taken some liberties with the original Bermudan recipe, preferring chunkier soups to liquefied ones. Me too.

• Total Time: 3 hrs
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 large potatoes , peeled and finely chopped
• 2 large carrots , peeled and finely chopped
• 1 cup celery , chopped
• 1 green bell peppers or 1 red bell pepper , seeded and finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (14 ½ ounce) can low sodium beef broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup rum (dark or amber)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb fish fillet , boneless, skinless and finely chopped (e.g. red snapper, Boston bluefish, haddock, cod)
• ½ cup fresh parsley , chopped
• hot pepper sauce (to be authentic use Bermuda's own Outerbridge Peppers, Ltd. sauce)

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan or dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, for 3-5 minutes or until onion is soft but not brown. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, bell pepper, thyme, salt, pepper, cloves and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, for 3-5 minutes until bell pepper starts to soften.
2. Stir in canned beef broth and one can of water; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until vegetables are just tender.
3. Stir in tomatoes, ketchup, rum and Worcestershire sauce; bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer, covered, for one hour or until vegetables are very tender.
4. Stir in fish; simmer, covered, 10 minutes until fish is opaque. Stir in parsley; season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Ladle into warm soup bowls and serve at once with hot pepper sauce.