Portuguese Clam Chowder Recipes

PORTUGUESE-STYLE CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for 5 minutes.
• Add the paprika, thyme, and oregano and cook until toasted and aromatic, about 1 minute.
• Add the canned tomatoes, water, sausage, and fennel and bring to a simmer and cook until fennel is tender, about 15 minutes. (if making ahead of time, remove from the heat and refrigerate until ready to finish. Reheat gently before proceeding).
• Add the clams and increase the heat to high.
• Simmer vigorously until the clams open, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Discard any clams that don't open.
• Stir in the Madeira and vinegar.
• Divide among 4 bowls and drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top. Serve at once!

CLASSIC CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large soup kettle, fry bacon over medium heat until bacon crisps, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon; set aside.
• Keep 2 tablespoons bacon fat in pan. (If necessary, add oil to yield 2 tablespoons.) Add onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and bay leaves; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds or so.
• Whisk in mashed potatoes, clam juice (bottled and what you've drained from the clams) and 1 cup of water. Add new potatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat; continue to simmer, partially covered, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in clams, cream and parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat through and serve, garnishing each bowl with reserved bacon.

PORTUGUESE STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash clams well in a sink of cold water. Discard any clams that are already opened.
• In a large stock pot with a tight fitting lid, place the cleaned clams. Add the sausage, onion, tomatoes and wine. Cover and set over high heat. Steam until all the clams open up. Be sure to shake the pan often to insure even heat.
• Drizzle olive oil over the cooked clams. Evenly divide all the ingredients into warm soup plates. Divide the broth into side cups for dipping.

PORTUGUESE CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Warm olive oil in large heavy bottom stock pot. Add onion, green pepper and sausage and saute until veggies are softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic in the last minute.
• Add spices and saute another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add tomato paste and saute another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add canned tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
• Add the clams, cover and simmer until all the shells open, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add additional clam broth, if necessary.
• Add vinegar and tarragon and stir in.
• Ladle into individual bowls and add optional seasonings, to taste.

SOUTH COAST PORTUGUESE FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat and add the olive oil and bay leaves. As soon as the bay leaves turn brown, add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 30 seconds or until it is golden. Add the onions, bell pepper, and allspice and saute, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the onions and peppers are softened but not brown.
• Add the potatoes and stock; if the stock doesn't cover the potatoes, add just enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 10 minutes, until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the tomatoes and sausage, and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the mixture assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost overseason the chowder at this point, to avoid having to stir it much once the fish is added).
• Add the whole fillets and cook for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat, gently stir in the cilantro, and allow the chowder to sit for 10 minutes. (The fish will finish cooking during this time.) If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit for up to an hour at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Use a slotted spoon to mold the chunks of hake, the chorico, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls, and ladle the savory tomato broth over. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley.

GOURMET MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cook pancetta in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low, then add onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in potato, bottled clam juice, and tomatoes (with juice) and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in clams and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams open wide, 8 to 10 minutes. (Discard any clams that after 10 minutes have not opened.) Remove pan from heat.
• Remove most of clamshells with tongs, then detach clams and return them to chowder. (Keep a few in their shells for garnish.) Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
• Note: Chowder, without clams or parsley, can be made 1 day ahead. Bring to a simmer before adding clams and proceed.

SOUTH COAST PORTUGUESE FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a heavy 4- to 6-quart pot over medium heat. Add olive oil and bay leaves. When bay leaves turn brown, add garlic and cook, stirring with wooden spoon, until golden. Add onions, green pepper and allspice and saute, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes, until onions are soft but not brown.
• Add potatoes and stock. Stock should just cover potatoes. Add a little water if needed. Increase heat, cover and boil potatoes 10 minutes, until not quite tender.
• Reduce heat to medium, add tomatoes and sausage and simmer 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper; use enough so you will not have to stir in more once fish is added.
• Add whole fish fillets, cook 5 minutes and remove from heat. Gently stir in cilantro and allow chowder to sit 10 minutes. Allow chowder to sit at room temperature 1 hour before serving, or cool briefly, then refrigerate up to 2 days, covering chowder after it is cold.
• To serve, reheat chowder over low heat. Do not let it boil. Use slotted spoon to mound chunks of fish with sausage and vegetables in soup plates. Spoon tomato broth over and sprinkle with parsley.

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan, add onion and cook until tender but not brown.
• Add potatoes and just enough water to cook potatoes (about ten minutes).
• When potatoes are tender add parsley, salt and pepper, and clams with their juice.
• Just before serving add 2 cups milk and heat but do NOT boil.

PORTUGUESE KALE-AND-SALT-COD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Soak the salt cod overnight in cold water. Drain and tear the cod into bite-size pieces, removing any remaining bones. Cover the cod with fresh water and bring nearly to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Warm the olive oil in a large soup pot over high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes to lightly brown. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and cook, stirring frequently until the onions are nearly soft, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes and toss. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the kale, bay leaves and chili- pepper flakes. Return to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Skim the fat off the top of the soup. Add the cod, adjust the seasoning, ladle into bowls and sprinkle each with fresh mint.