Cullen Skink Scottish Smoked Haddock Chowder Recipes

TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH CULLEN SKINK

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Put the milk, parsley stalks, bay leaf, and the whole piece of haddock into a large saucepan.
• Finely chop the parsley leaves. Set aside.
• Bring the milk to a gentle boil over medium heat. Lower the heat to low simmer, about 3 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Set aside for 5 minutes so the herbs and haddock infuse their flavors into the milk.
• Remove the haddock from the milk with a slotted spatula. Set aside.
• Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the herbs.
• In another large saucepan over medium-low heat, add the butter and the onion. Cook gently until the butter melts and the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the onion.
• Add the infused milk and the potato to the onion-butter mixture. Stir until the potatoes dissolve and the soup thickens slightly.
• Flake the smoked haddock into bite-size chunks, discarding any bones. Add to the soup.
• Lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the chopped parsley and cook until the haddock is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Don't overstir, because the fish chunks might disintegrate.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Be careful with the salt, as the fish will impart quite a salty flavor all on its own.
• Garnish the soup with the reserved parsley leaves and more freshly ground black pepper. Serve with crusty bread, if desired.

SCOTTISH CULLEN SKINK (SMOKED HADDOCK CHOWDER)

Steps:

• 1. Pour the milk into a large saucepan. Remove the leaves from the parsley and add the stalks to the milk. Finely chop the leaves and set aside. Add the bay leaf and the haddock to the milk.
• 2. Bring the milk to a gentle boil and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and leave for 5 minutes to allow the herbs to infuse their flavor into the milk.
• 3. Remove the haddock from the milk with a slotted spoon and set aside. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve and reserve the herb-infused milk.
• 4. Heat the butter in another saucepan, add the onions and cook gently until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• 5. Add the milk to the onions, then add the mashed potatoes and stir until totally blended into the milk. It should be thick and creamy.
• 6. Flake the smoked haddock into meaty chunks, taking care to remove any bones. Add chunks to the soup.
• 7. Add the chopped parsley leaves to soup and bring to a gentle simmer, cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Do not over-stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• 8. NOTE: Sometimes Cullen Skink is served with a poached egg on top for a more filling soup.

CULLEN SKINK - SCOTTISH SMOKED HADDOCK AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Cover the smoked haddock with water, in a shallow pan, skin side down. Bring to the boil and simmer for 4/5 minutes, turning once.
• Take the haddock from the pan and remove the skin and bones.
• Break up the fish into flakes, return to the stock and add the chopped onion, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
• Simmer for another 15 minutes. Strain, remove the bay leaf but retain the stock and fish.
• Add the milk to the fish stock and bring back to the boil.
• Add enough mashed potato to create the consistency you prefer (don't be afraid to make it rich and thick!).
• Add the fish and reheat.
• Check for seasoning.
• Just before serving, add the butter in small pieces so that it runs through the soup.
• Serve with chopped parsley on top, accompanied by triangles of toast.