Irish fish chowder with soda bread

Loaded with different types of fish, this simple chowder recipe stands or falls on the freshness of the ingredients. Serve with traditional soda bread.

By John Torode
From MasterChef

Ingredients

For the soda bread

  • 200g/7oz wholemeal flour
  • 275g/9¾oz strong white flour, plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • pinch salt
  • 200ml/7fl oz buttermilk
  • 1 large free-range egg
  • 1 tsp honey

For the chowder

  • 1 large potato
  • 250g/9oz un-dyed smoked haddockfillets, skin on
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 shallot, halved
  • 650ml/22fl oz full-fat milk
  • 30g/1oz unsalted butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, sliced
  • 150g/5½oz sweetcornkernels (thawed, if frozen)
  • handful runner beans, sliced
  • 6 scallops, sliced
  • 12 steamed clams
  • 200g/7oz pollockfillet, diced
  • 150g/5½oz raw king prawns
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • freshly ground black pepper