Seafood Chowder

Alright, I altered this recipe a bit but it originates from Sarah Fragoso's Every Day Paleo Family Cookbook.

Seafood Chowder

• 1 T coconut oil
• 8 uncured bacon strips, chopped 
• 6 celery stalks, diced 
• 5 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes or butternut squash 
• 1 (13.5) can full-fat coconut milk 
• 2 2/3 cups Homemade Chicken Broth 
• Black pepper to taste 
• 1 (10-ounce) can wild-caught shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 bay leaf 

Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat.  Add your coconut oil and cook your onion for about 5 minutes.  Add your bacon and cook until crispy. 

Personally my next step is to drain the excess fat from my soup pot.  Along with having Celiacs my husband and I have sensitivities with too much fat.  It hurts our stomachs. I will stop there :) 

So, if you wish to leave the fat, which most paleo goers will do, great!  If you choose not too because of sensitivities I understand! Do you remember that fat does not make you fat.  Not having a deficit in your calories and carbs does. Certain fats are great for the functioning of your brain and 50% of your calories should be coming from fats for a healthy diet. So, I chose to not keep the fat in my dish. I stored it in an air tight container in the fridge to use instead of oil or butter in another recipe. 

Moving on. 

Add your celery and sweet potatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes. 

Add your coconut milk, chicken broth, and pepper.  Bring to a simmer.

Add your bay leaf and let the soup simmer (not boil) for 20 minutes.  Use a potato masher and mash some of the sweet potatoes up to thicken your soup.  Leave some chunky.  Add the shrimp and cook until pink (about 5 minutes). Drain your clams and chop them into small pieces.  Stir them in until they are warm. 

SO GOOD 

What else could you do with this recipe?  Just get a "seafood blend" from a grocery store and add in place of shrimp and clams or what ever meat you want to put in this dish! It is amazing! 

Happy Tuesday :)