Ingredients:
- 4 slices (60g) thick-cut smoked bacon, diced
- 1 cup (150g) yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks (100g), diced
- 3 cloves (15g) garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
- 3 medium (450g) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 cup (160g) frozen corn
- 3 tbsp (25g) all-purpose flour
- 4 cups (950ml) low-sodium seafood stock
- 1 lb (450g) cod, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1/2 lb (225g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 lb (225g) bay scallops
- 1 cup (240ml) half-and-half
- 1 tbsp (15ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp (2g) dried thyme
- 2 tbsp (8g) fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Place the diced bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until the fat renders and the bacon becomes crisp and mahogany-colored.
- Add the butter, onion, and celery to the pot, sautéing until the vegetables are translucent (about 5 minutes). Stir in the garlic and thyme for 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Slowly pour in the seafood stock while whisking to prevent lumps. Add the cubed potatoes and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in the corn kernels and maintain a gentle simmer.
- Implement the staggered addition technique by adding the cod, shrimp, and scallops. Poach gently in the residual heat of the broth until the seafood is just cooked through to maintain a buttery consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in the half-and-half, fresh lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.