Shells Restaurant Clam Chowder Recipes

NEELY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain the canned clams over a measuring cup and reserve the juice. You will need 3 cups reserved juice in total, so add the 2 bottles of clam juice to make a total of 3 cups.
• Add the bacon to the Dutch oven and saute long enough for the bacon to begin to render its fat but not begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Turn up the heat and add the garlic, celery, onions, thyme, bay leaf and some salt and pepper. Saute until tender and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook until pasty and blonde. Stir in the clam juice, and then add the potatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are just tender, about 8 minutes.
• Add the half-and-half and clams and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with the vinegar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper. Serve with the snipped chives.

CONTEST-WINNING NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes., Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the cooked bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

STEAMER CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Fill two large pots (or two sinks) with cold water. Place the clams in one pot of water, discarding any dead ones or clams with cracked shells. Gently move them around in the water and let them soak for a few minutes, then lift them out and place them in the other pot of cold water. Rinse the first pot and fill it again. Move the clams around again, then transfer them back to the clean pot. Continue to switch the clams back and forth, letting them soak for a few minutes each time, and then lifting them out of the pot, until the water remains crystal clear. The process should take four or five soakings.
• 2. Put the 2 cups water in an 8-quart pot, cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Quickly but gently place the clams in the pot and cover again. After 4 minutes, remove the lid and quickly stir the clams with a wooden spoon, trying to lift some of the clams from the bottom to the top so they will cook evenly - but be gentle, the shells are very brittle and crack easily. Cover and continue to steam for another 4 to 5 minutes. (The broth will most likely overflow just as the clams have finished cooking.) All the clams should be open; if not, steam them a minute or two longer. Remove the clams and strain the broth; you should have 4 cups.
• 3. When the clams are cool, remove them from the shells and cut off the siphons, as well as the protective skin that covers each siphon, and discard. (You should have about 1 pound of clam meat.) Cover and refrigerate until later.
• 4. Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over low heat and add the diced salt pork. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium and cook until the pork is crisp and golden brown. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cracklings to a small ovenproof dish, leaving the fat in the pot, and reserve until later.
• 5. Add the butter, onion, celery, thyme, and bay leaves to the pot and sauté, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are softened but not browned.
• 6. Add the potatoes and the reserved clam broth. The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 10 minutes, or until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center. If the broth hasn't thickened lightly, smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot and cook a minute or two longer to release the starch.
• 7. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the clams and the cream and season to taste with black pepper and possibly a pinch of salt (the saltiness of steamers varies). 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 at room temperature for up to an hour, allowing the flavors to meld.
• 8. When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Try not to stir too often, because you don't want to break open the clam bellies. Warm the cracklings in a low oven (200°F) for a few minutes.
• 9. Ladle the chowder into cups or bowls, making sure that the steamers, onions, and potatoes are evenly divided. Scatter the cracklings over the individual servings and sprinkle with the chopped parsley and minced chives.

THE MOORING RESTAURANT'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Make roux by melting butter over medium-low heat in a 1 1/2 gallon heavy stockpot.
• Add onions and saute until translucent.
• Reduce heat to low, add flour, and stir to blend.
• Cook for 2 to 4 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently.
• Set aside to cool.
• Make stock. In a separate pot, bring to a boil the clams and natural clam juice.
• Reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• In another large pot, cover potatoes with cold water.
• Bring to a boil and cook until soft.
• Drain and set aside.
• Add the hot stock to the cooled roux and whisk thoroughly until smooth.
• Slowly bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and add cooked potatoes.
• Whisk in half-and-half, being careful not to smash potatoes.
• Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Serve in warm soup bowls and sprinkle with a dash of paprika.

CLAM CHOWDER SHELL PASTA

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Pour bacon and grease into a strainer set over a bowl to let the grease drain out. Reserve bacon until needed and discard grease or set aside for another use.
• Place the skillet back over medium heat and add butter, onion, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook and stir until onion starts to soften and turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook and stir for about 1 minute to create a roux.
• Drain both cans clams and set clams aside for later.
• Pour clam juice from the cans and the bottle into the skillet; whisk to scrape off any bits from the bottom of the skillet. Raise heat to medium-high and let come to a simmer.
• While the clam juice is coming to a simmer, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 9 to 12 minutes.
• Add potatoes, celery, tarragon, and cayenne to the simmering clam juice mixture. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the reserved clams, cream, and all but 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon. Simmer gently for another 10 minutes, then remove and discard tarragon sprig.
• Drain pasta well and add to the clam sauce; mix until well combined. Turn off the heat and let sit for 1 minute.
• Stir in parsley and Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
• Ladle into warm bowls. Sprinkle with more Parmesan, crumbled bacon, and parsley.

THE SEAGRILLE RESTAURANT CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place clams and 16 cups water in a very large stockpot over medium-high heat. Cover and cook until clams have opened. Drain, reserving liquid, and discarding any unopened clams. Remove clams from shells, discarding shells. Coarsely chop clams and set aside.
• Heat bacon and butter in a second very large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onions and celery; stir to coat. Add flour and cook, stirring, until thickened, 5 to 6 minutes. Add thyme and stir to combine.
• Add reserved clam cooking liquid and bay leaves; season with Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Add heavy cream; let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Add potatoes; let simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Add reserved chopped clams and cook until just heated through.
• Serve hot with oyster crackers.

FIVE STAR CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In an 10 quart pot, melt butter and sauté bacon over low heat until cooked, but do not brown.
• Add diced onion and celery, and sauté until tender and translucent.
• Add clam broth, white pepper, worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce, potatoes and herbs.
• Cook approximately 13 minutes to soften potatoes and incorporate flavors.
• Add heavy cream and chopped clams. Bring to boil,.
• Mix cornstarch and water together and add, stirring briskly.
• Salt & pepper to taste.
• Enjoy.