Asย evidencedย by my Confessions post this week, I’ve been consuming a lot of Dawson’s Creek lately. And if you’ve never watched goings on at Capeside High School, you might not know that it’s set in coastalย Massachusetts. Which means there is a lot of ocean talk. There are boats. And seafood. And people calling others “chowderheads”. It’s no wonder I got a massive, huge seafood craving thanks to the exploits of Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen.

What I really wanted to make was a Low Country Boil, which is basically just a big pile of various seafood, new potatoes and corn boiled in a flavorful broth. The best part about Low Country Boils? You dump it all out on the table on a big pile of newspaper and dig in. No need for plates, forks or napkins.

But the weather this weekend called for something a little more autumnal. And I figured it might be fun to combine two seafood classicsโ€”chowder and Low Country Boilโ€”into one delicious, creamy and totally comforting dish. This soup comes together quickly and is packed full of flavor. It’s also totally customizable. Not a fan of shrimp? Skip ’em. Want to add lobster? Go for it!

I used a seafood medley from Costco that included scallops, shrimp, mussels and calamari, but you can use whatever combo of seafood makes you happy. I’ve also noticed that Trader Joe’s sells an awesome seafood medley. Live near the ocean? First of all, paint me jealous. Secondly, grab yourself some fresh seafood and enjoy. And try to feel a little sorry for your landlocked friends, will ya?

Low Country Seafood Chowder

Low Country Seafood Chowder

Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

This soup comes together quickly and is packed full of flavor. It's also totally customizable. Not a fan of shrimp? Skip 'em. Want to add lobster? Go for it!

Ingredients

  • 2 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, diced
  • 4 cups fish or vegetable stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 12 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into coins (I used the chicken andouille from Trader Joe's, yum!)
  • 1 1/2 pounds assorted raw seafood (mixture of shrimp, mussels, calamari, shrimp, lobster, firm whitefish, clams, crab)
  • 2/3 cup plain lowfat Greek yogurt

Instructions

  1. In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon, drain on paper towels and crumble. Set aside.
  2. Reduce heat on stock pot to low, add in red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add in the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add potatoes, stock, bay leaves, Old Bay seasoning, celery seed, and frozen corn. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
  4. Add in the seafood and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the seafood is opaque and cooked through. Remove pot from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Then stir in Greek yogurt. Spoon into bowl and serve with crumbled bacon sprinkled on top.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 421Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 794mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 48g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

 

Do you ever get food cravings from TV shows? Please tell me I’m not alone.

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12 Comments

  1. This sounds absolutely delicious. I love making traditional New England chowder, but this sounds just as delicious and not nearly as guilt-ridden… at least for a weeknight. Thanks! (P.S. I LOVE Dawson’s Creek as well… and am a die-hard Pacey fan.)

  2. So I had no idea Dawson’s Creek was set in New England! I had assumed it was in, like, North Carolina or something. I can guess what part of the coast they’re on if they live in Capeside, haha. That is a beautiful part of the state (though I’m from the super boring western part of Massachusetts with no ocean!).

    1. I think it was filmed in North Carolina. I’d imagine the area would look a lot different from coastal Massachusetts? But maybe not.

  3. This looks good! Even though I’m coastal, I’ve used those frozen seafood mixes for paella and they’re a tasty substitute.

    I get cravings from books more than food. If I’m walking through a character’s shoes and their situation has them craving something, it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll start craving it, too. One of my favorite authors is really into putting repeating song and food themes into her books. This woman had made me Youtube all kinds of music and crave from chicken marsalla, krispy kreme, french fries with vinegar, banana bread & chinese potstickers.

    1. Gah, Gilmore Girls and their junk food. It annoys me. The whole “Oh we’re so cute and all we eat is junk food all the time. Tee hee!” bit is not cool. Come on, really? Eat something healthy on the show for once, please.