Fish Chowder for Under 300 Calories

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups water
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 pounds halibut fillets or other firm white fish, skinned
• 3 slices bacon, uncooked
• 3 1/2 cups cubed peeled baking potato
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion (about 1 large)
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped carrot (about 1 medium)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

Preparation 

Bring 4 1/2 cups water and bay leaves to a simmer in a large skillet. Add fish; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Remove fish from pan with a slotted spoon. Cut fish into large pieces. Reserve 2 1/2 cups cooking liquid and bay leaves.

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan; crumble bacon, and set aside. Add potato, onion, and carrot to pan; cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Add reserved cooking liquid, bay leaves, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Add milk and butter; simmer 25 minutes until potatoes are tender (do not boil). Stir in fish, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Discard bay leaves. Sprinkle with bacon.

Nutritional Info:

One cup of this chowder contains 242 calories, 8.6g of fat, 21.8g of protein, 18.4g of carbohydrates, 1.5g of fiber, 42mg of cholesterol, 1.1mg of iron, 531mg of sodium, and 166mg of calcium.  The recipe makes ten servings.

Visit Health.com for nine more creative fish recipes that are healthy and low in calories!