Portuguese Style 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!

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.

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.

SOUTH COAST PORTUGUESE FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. 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 sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the onions and peppers are softened but not browned.
• 2. 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.
• 3. 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).
• 4. 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.
• 5. When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boll. Use a slotted spoon to mound the chunks of hake, the chouriço, 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 and serve immediately.

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.

PORTUGUESE PORK AND CLAMS

Steps:

• To Marinate: Combine the wine, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and cumin in a nonporous glass dish or bowl. Mix together. Add pork and toss to coat. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate to marinate for 2 to 3 hours.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft. Remove pork from dish or bowl (reserving marinade) and add to skillet; brown quickly, then add potato cubes, reserved marinade, beans, cayenne pepper and clams or mussels. Cook until open, about 7 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

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.

CHORIZO AND CLAMS, PORTUGUESE STYLE

Steps:

• In a large pot or sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion begins to wilt, about 3 minutes. Crumble the chorizo into the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to firm, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, bay leaf, wine, and water and bring to a boil. Cover partially and cook until the liquid is reduced and the mixture is saucy, 5 minutes.
• Add the shellfish to the pan, cover all the way, and cook until the shells open and their meat is slightly firm, about 5 minutes. Discard any shellfish that fail to open, then serve right away.