This is a guest post from Lin Pardey, author of many cruising books and DVDs including The Care and Feeding of Sailing Crew, now in its fourth edition. She and her husband Larry have sailed over 185,000 miles in two boats they’ve built themselves. Unfortunately, Larry died in July 2020, after a 5-year battle with Parkinson’s and a massive stroke in 2019. Their website contains lots of cruising tips — and you can sign up for their free e-newsletter. Lin continues to cruise and we share a booth at the Annapolis Sailboat Show.
Mussel and Kumara (Sweet Potato) Chowder from Lin Pardey
From the first time I found that cockles, mussels and clams don’t bite, I grew to love scavenging for these tasty morsels as we explored out of the way anchorages. I grew to love the chowders I could make with them using very simple ingredients I always had on board, even if we’d been far away from provisioning ports for a month or more. But until I found the following recipe, mussels were my least favorite choice.
About a month ago, Larry and I found ourselves in Dargaville, a small port town on the west side of New Zealand’s north coast. I asked two folks which cafe in town was the best. Both, without a moments hesitation said, “Blah Blah Blah” without hesitating. They pointed across the street and I realized that was the name of the cafe. Kumara and mussel soup (Kumara is a local sweet potato) sounded too interesting to pass up. If you try the following recipe you’ll probably agree.
Lin Pardey’s Mussel Chowder
Ingredients
- 12 green lip mussels (can substitute other mussels)
- 2 sweet potatoes (or large kumara)
- 1 small regular potato (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 medium brown onion (halved and thinly sliced)
- 2 rashers (that’s Kiwi for “slices”) bacon
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1-1/2 teaspoons mild curry powder
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup milk (OR ½ cup milk and ½ cup coconut milk)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- cream
- fresh coriander (cilantro)
Instructions
- Steam mussels just until opened. Remove from shells. Cut each one into five pieces.
- Bake kumara or sweet potatoes until soft.
- Boil potato until mashable.
- In large heavy sauce pan melt butter, add garlic, onions and bacon cut into small pieces. Saute until bacon is well cooked. Add curry powder and stir while it heats.
- Add flour to make roux – then milk. When this comes to a boil, add chicken broth and simmer for ten minutes or until onions are very tender.
- Mash kumara then add to the pot and stir until it comes to a boil. Taste and if it is too sweet, add mashed regular potato. (I liked it with or without.)
- Turn heat very low and add mussels, then lime juice. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk, or coconut milk. Do not boil anymore or mussels will be less tender.
- Put in bowls, drizzle with fresh cream, top with good portion of chopped fresh coriander.
Notes
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Simplify meal prep on board with proven strategies for provisioning, maximizing fridge space, and cooking delicious meals aboard your boat.
Adrienne says
Rashers is the English word for a slice of bacon, not “iconically” a ” Kiwi” name for it. I’m a kiwi 🙂
The Kumara is a white fleshed, purple skinned sweet potato.
Val says
Great recipe but sad to read the update not acknowledging Larry’s passing.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I updated the intro with that.