This hearty stew could just as easily be classed as a chunky soup. Leeks and smoked haddock are the perfect bedfellows; however you could also try this dish with some lightly smoked mackerel, kippers or even smoked chicken or ham. It’s really easy to prepare and uses very few ingredients.
Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
30g butter
2 leeks, trimmed and sliced thinly into rings
200g potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm dice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400ml milk
600ml fish, chicken or vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
400g smoked haddock fillet, undyed
30g plain flour
1 x 195g tin of sweetcorn
2 x 400g tins white beans; drained and washed (you can use cannellini, butter or haricot beans)
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp smoked paprika
1. Place a medium-sized saucepan or sauté pan on the stove and add the butter. Allow it to melt before adding the leeks and potatoes with a pinch of salt and a generous twist of pepper Cook for 10 minutes until the leeks are soft.
2. Meanwhile, pour the milk and the stock into another pan with the bay leaf and add the fish. Bring to the boil before removing the fish from the poaching liquor. When cool enough to handle, flake the fish into chunks and remove and discard any skin. Set the cooking liquor aside.
3. Add the flour and the sweetcorn to the leeks and potatoes and stir well. Cook the flour and sweetcorn for a few minutes before adding the hot poaching liquor. Mix well and bring to the boil. Add the drained beans and simmer until the potatoes are tender.
4. Add the flaked fish to the stew and heat through. Taste for seasoning. Stir in the chopped parsley and sprinkle with a little smoked paprika. Serve with crusty white bread.