Low Fat Smoked Haddock Chowder...

Today was a day of experimenting and a good day it was too. Modjadji and I made a Low Fat Smoked Haddock Chowder from ingredients I had in the fridge and freezer.

Here in our little part of Africa the winter is drawing in, although today was a high 29°C! What winter I wonder? We will be lucky if we get two months of it.

Soups are a favourite of many and I am trying out, inventing and collecting low calorie recipes for my restaurant. I have not yet found a restaurant or bistro which offers slimming recipes with calorie counts - certainly not in my little town. I am hoping that it will be a great service to many dieters. They will be able to buy take aways and frozen dinners as well.

Unfortunately diabetes and obesity is on the rise everywhere and we all need some good healthy food. The aim is to try and encourage everyone in the family to change their eating lifestyle. Since I am on the path to slim and healthy, I thought it would be a good thing to put my kind of dishes on the menu. I shall also be offering cooking classes teaching about cooking with healthy, fresh ingredients that are great on taste and flavour. We re-open on the 1st of July. Not long to go now.

Here is today's dish...

Low Fat Smoked Haddock Chowder

1 tsp grapeseed oil (this has a high smoke point and is flavourless)
1 medium leek (50g) finely chopped
1/2 onion (50g) finely chopped
2 or 3 Tbs water
200 ml 2% milk
200 ml vegetable stock (I use an MSG free stock powder)
1 bay leaf
1 medium potato 60g diced
250 gm smoked haddock cut into bite size pieces

Heat the oil in a pot and add the leek and onion
Cook gently for about 5 minutes
Add 2 or 3 Tbs water and cook for a further 5 minutes
Add the stock, milk, bay leaf and potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes or until the potato is cooked.
Now add the haddock and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until haddock flakes easily.
If the soup is too thick, add boiling water as desired.
(I think I will mash the potato next time before I add the fish...)

Makes 2 generous 1 cup portions.

Calories 222.5: Carbs 15.3g: Fat 5.2g

Tomorrow is another cooking day and I fancy a protein vegetable delight...who knows?

Watch this space:)