Reino's Kalamoiika

This was the Grand Prize Winner in the first of The Oregonian - James Beard recipe contests, held in 1975. The winner's name was Reino Koski. This is a Finnish soup.

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  lbs salmon (fresh or frozen)
• 1 1⁄4 tablespoons salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 2  bay leaves
• 6  whole allspice
• 4  medium potatoes
• 2  medium carrots
• 3  small onions, divided
• 1  cup red cabbage, sliced
• 1  handful fresh celery leaves, chopped
• 5  slices bacon
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter
• 1  cup celery, diced fine
• 1⁄2 green bell pepper, diced
• 6 1⁄2 ounces minced clams
• 1  quart water
• 6 1⁄2 ounces shrimp (small, or broken)
• 0.5 (4 ounce) jar pimentos, chopped fine
• 1  cup  chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1⁄2 teaspoon rosemary
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground thyme
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground oregano
• 4  crushed  chili, tepins (a hot, dried pepper)
• 1  quart milk
• 1  tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Use any cut salmon or steelhead, leaving skin on.
2. In 1 quart water, with salt and pepper, simmer on low heat in 5- or 6-quart pot.
3. When skin comes off easily, set aside on plate and remove skin and bones.
4. Cut or break into 1- and 2-inch pieces.
5. In liquid stock, place bay leaves and whole allspice.
6. Add potatoes, cut in 1- or 1 1/2-inch pieces; carrots, cut lengthwise and into half circles about 1/4-inch thick; and 2 onions cubed coarsely (not chopped fine).
7. Cook over low heat.
8. After a short while, add red cabbage and celery leaves.
9. Stir.
10. Cook until carrots are almost tender and potatoes don't disintegrate.
11. While this is cooking, dice bacon and cook in fry pan over low heat.
12. Pour almost all fat off.
13. Add butter (or margarine) and diced celery, remaining onion (diced fine) and green pepper.
14. Saute' until onions are yellow and peppers are pale green.
15. Now back to your pot. Add salmon pieces, (they should be not quite cooked).
16. From now on everything is simmered on low to preserve body.
17. Add clams with broth, shrimp and 1 quart water.
18. Put in mixture from fry pan.
19. Add pimento, mushrooms, rosemary, cumin, thyme, oregano and chilies.
20. Stir in milk a cup at a time.
21. Add butter and let whole bit simmer for at least one hour.
22. Serve with tossed salad and garlic bread.
23. Can be frozen.