Icelandic Fish Creamy Stew (Printable Version)

A creamy stew of cod, potatoes, and fresh herbs perfect for cold days.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish & Dairy

01 - 1 lb cod or haddock fillets, skinless and boneless
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp heavy cream

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 lb potatoes, peeled and diced
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 bay leaf
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp ground white pepper
12 - Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place diced potatoes into a large pot, cover with salted water, bring to a boil, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a saucepan, submerge fish fillets in water, add bay leaf and a pinch of salt, then simmer gently for 6 to 8 minutes until opaque and flaking easily. Remove fish and reserve ⅓ cup of poaching liquid. Discard bay leaf.
03 - Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, then add chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Add cooked potatoes to the pot and gently mash, leaving some chunks to retain texture.
05 - Flake the poached fish into large pieces and add to the pot along with the reserved poaching liquid. Stir gently to combine.
06 - Pour in whole milk and heavy cream, heating over low heat while stirring frequently until warmed through and creamy. Avoid boiling.
07 - Season with salt, ground white pepper, and nutmeg if desired. Stir in half of the chopped parsley and chives, reserving the remainder for garnish.
08 - Serve hot, sprinkled with remaining herbs. Optionally accompany with dark rye bread and butter.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, and most of that is just gentle simmering while you do other things.
  • The creamy broth is silky without being heavy, especially if you catch it at just the right moment before it boils.
  • White fish flakes into the stew so naturally that it feels less like cooking and more like assembling something that was always meant to be.
02 -
  • The moment the stew reaches a full boil, the cream will curdle and separate into greasy puddles—a mistake I'll never make twice, and one I'm saving you from.
  • Waxy potatoes won't dissolve into the broth like floury ones will, which is exactly what you want here; texture is half the pleasure.
  • The poaching liquid from the fish is pure umami and shouldn't be wasted; it's what makes this stew taste like the sea.
03 -
  • Cut your potatoes into uniform pieces so they cook at the same rate; uneven pieces mean some mushy and some still firm.
  • Reserve the fish poaching liquid before you're tempted to throw it away; this is where half the flavor lives, and it's a mistake to skip it.
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