Santa Barbara Clam Chowder Recipes

PAELLA OF SANTA BARBARA

Steps:

• Roast or grill bell pepper. Peel, seed, julienne and reserve for garnish. Cut lemon wedges and reserve as well. Chop tomatoes, mushrooms and the other vegetables we found at the market. Saute in the olive oil and allow to cook until liquid evaporates. Cut the chorizo into 1-inch rings and saute for 5 minutes (separately). Add chorizo to the vegetables in your paella pan. Add rice, saffron, almonds, herbs, salt and pepper. Top with stock. Stir well and bring to a boil. Cover and allow to simmer 12 to 15 minutes. In the meantime, clean your seafood. Then at 15 minutes, add seafood and cover. Allow to cook 6 to 8 minutes longer. Serve immediately, garnishing with the bell pepper strips and lemon wedges.

BARBRA BUSH'S ALL AMERICAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp.
• Drain on paper towel.
• Saute onion in same skillet as bacon until soft.
• Add clam juice& potatoes.
• Cover& cook over low heat until potatoes are tender, 15 min.
• Melt butter in sauce pan.
• Add flour& mix together.
• Add milk& blend until smooth.
• Add clam juice& potatoes; cook& stir until thickened.
• Add soup, bacon, clams,& pepper; cook over low heat until heated through, Serve with oyster crackers, if desired.

BARBARA'S NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place potatoes in medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to boil. Simmer until tender, 20 minutes. Drain.
• Cook bacon and onion in heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until onion is tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in flour and cook 2 minutes. Add juices from clams, bottled clam juice, cream and milk. Bring to boil. Stir in clams and potatoes and heat through.

SANTA FE CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chorizo; sauté until fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Add next 6 ingredients; sauté until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Mix in oregano and cumin, then tomatoes, corn, and bottled clam juice. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until potatoes are almost tender, about 12 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cool, then cover and chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
• Add clams to mixture in pot; cover and cook over medium-high heat until clams open and potatoes are tender, about 7 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Mix in 4 tablespoons cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide clams among 6 shallow soup bowls. Ladle chowder over. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve.
• A smoked-pork link sausage flavored with garlic and spices, but milder than Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo is available at Spanish markets and specialty foods stores.