Chowders are huge crowd pleasers, but they can also make elegant starters at a sit-down dinner party – especially when served with the recently launched Spier Good Natured Chenin Blanc 2021.
This certified organic wine’s vibrant quince, citrus and peach notes gorgeously complement our chowder’s sweetness, while its crisp, zesty finish offers a deft counterpoint to its creaminess. A winning combo any time of year!
Serves 4-6.
Ingredients:
800g sustainably sourced prawn tail meat, peeled and cleaned*
45ml butter, plus extra
30ml olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 small bunches spring onions, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
5ml smoked paprika
4 sweetcorn on the cob, kernels sliced off
2 large potatoes, peeled and roughly grated (or finely diced)
1L chicken stock
250ml fresh cream
A large handful fresh herbs, chopped (like chives and/or Italian parsley)
Salt and pepper
Fresh Vadas sourdough, for serving
Method:
If your prawn meat is frozen, rinse off any accumulated ice under running water and leave it to thaw completely. In a wide pot, heat the butter and oil and add the onions, half of the spring onions and the garlic. Fry until the onion is soft and translucent, then add the paprika and stir for another minute.
Add the sliced corn kernels, potatoes and stock, stir and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are just tender, then add the cream and 2/3 of the prawns. Stir and return to a simmer, then cook for about 10 minutes or until the prawns are just cooked, and season well with salt and pepper.
In the meantime, heat about 30ml butter in a pan and fry the remaining prawns on both sides until golden and just cooked, seasoning with salt and pepper. Top the chowder with the remaining half of the chopped spring onion and half of the chopped herbs, and stir. Serve hot in bowls, topped with the pan-fried prawns, more spring onion and herbs, and bread on the side.
*Allergic to shellfish? Replace sustainably sourced prawns can be replaced with a firm white fish like haddock.
Spier Good Natured Organic wines can be tasted and purchased at the farm in Stellenbosch and online at shop.spier.co.za.