Facts About Bermuda fish chowder
Bermuda fish chowder is a chowder soup that is considered the national dish of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its basic ingredients are fish, tomatoes and onions, seasoned with black rum and "Sherry Pepper Sauce". The recipe is believed to have been developed by the 17th century British colonizers of Bermuda.
Basic ingredients
The basic ingredients of Bermuda fish chowder are fish stock, fish fillets, and tomato puree. Other ingredients are typically vegetables and herbs and spices.
Recipes
One recipe uses one cup of chopped onion, celery, and carrot as well as diced pork hocks and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Another recipe recommends using rock fish or sea bass as the fish fillet ingredient.
The Epicurious website recipe calls for onions, carrots, celery, a seeded and skinned tomato, minced garlic, unsalted butter, filleted white fish (Cod, Grouper, Tilefish, or Snapper), seasoned with bay leaf, thyme, allspice, Worcestershire sauce, and the traditional black rum and sherry pepper sauce.
Traditional condiments
Traditional recipes are seasoned with black rum, and "sherry peppers sauce", a hot sauce made of pimentos marinated in sherry and spices. Locally manufactured "Outerbridge's Original Peppers Sauce" is one of Bermuda's few exports. It is said that Bermuda fish chowder must include Outerbridge's sauce. Black Seal Rum made by Bermudan distiller Gosling Brothers is also considered the traditional rum to flavour the soup.
Comparison with other chowders
Bermuda fish chowder is of a much lighter consistency than chowders that are thickened with milk or cream. It is sometimes compared with bouillabaisse.
History
It is believed that the recipe was developed by 17th century British colonizers. Sherry peppers sauce is also Bermudan tradition dating from that period. Called "peppers wine", it was used by sailors to make spoiled food more palatable.
TIME reported that there was "Bermuda fish chowder competition" in 2006 featuring celebrity chefs Anthony Bourdain, Pino Maffeo and Michael Lomonaco.