Westcoast Style Clam Chowder Recipes

WEST COAST CLAM CHOWDER RECIPE:

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium heat, saute bacon until crisp and golden brown. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon; drain bacon on paper towels (drain off the bacon fat from the soup pot). Set bacon aside. I do not add the bacon fat back to my clam chowder, but it is your choice!
• Reduce heat to low and add butter and stir until melted. Add onions and cook until they are translucent and soft (about 10 to 15 minutes). Sauteing the onions in the butter is important to achieve the excellent taste. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Add flour, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly until well blended. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly until sauce comes to a boil and thickens.
• Making a large quantity of clam chowder:
• Since I usually make a large pot (sometimes a couple of pots) of clam chowder for my family, I make a Roux with flour and butter for thickening the chowder to my liking:
• First use some of the butter to saute the onions.
• Then using equal parts of butter and flour, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk the flour and butter together. Cook, stirring, it until the flour/butter mixture are well blended and starts to lose its raw flour smell. NOTE: A good guideline is to use 1 tablespoon of flour for every 2 cups of liquid you have, but adjust to your taste.
• Slowly add the milk to the roux, stirring constantly to blend well.
• My family likes a thinly-thickened chowder, but thicken to your liking.
• Add the cut-up potatoes and simmer approximately 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
• Add the cooked bacon, clams and clam liquid; simmer until thoroughly heated. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
• Serve in large soup bowls. I sometimes like to add a dollop of butter on top of each bowl of clam chowder (your choice).
• Serve with crackers or bread.
• Our family likes to serve this clam chowder with Never-Fail Popovers.
• Makes 8 servings.

CLAM CHOWDER - WESTCOAST STYLE

Steps:

• In a medium size frying pan, lightly fry chopped bacon until partially cooked.
• Drain and discard fat.
• Add chopped onions to bacon and saute' for 5 minutes, DO NOT BROWN, set aside.
• In a large cooking pot, add water and bring to boil.
• Add chopped carrots, cubed potatoes, salt and pepper.
• Puree' tomatoes in a food processor or blender and add to cooking pot.
• Add reserved bacon/onion mixture to pot and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots and potatoes are tender; DO NOT OVERCOOK.
• Add diced celery and ketchup and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add clam nectar, baby clams and the liquid and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add milk, stirring constantly while adding and bring to just boil.
• Finally, add instant potato flakes, stir well and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste. (Add more instant potato flakes if soup is not thick enough to your liking.). The soup will thicken slightly the following day.
• Remove soup from heat and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
• Fresh baby clams may be used.
• You will require about 4 pounds of baby clams in the shell.
• In a pot, add 2 1/2 cups water and clams.
• Cover and bring to boil and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until all clams are opened.
• Discard any clams that DO NOT OPEN.
• Save the liquid and pour through a very fine sieve to remove any particles and use the liquid in the soup same as the canned clams.
• Extract the clams from the shells and add to soup.
• This soup can be canned.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large steamer pot add your cleaned clams - with 1 cup of white wine and 2 tsps crushed garlic. Steam until clams are fully opened.
• Remove clams from the pot and set aside to cool.
• Reserve all liquids from the clam steam (this is the clam liquor - add bottled clam juice to equal 12 cups).
• In a 6 qt or larger pot add 1 tbsp olive oil, over medium high heat, add onions, celery, garlic and potatoes. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until onions are clear.
• Add clam liquor and cook till potatoes are tender.
• In a small pot melt butter add flour, salt and pepper cook for two minutes slowly add several ladles of the clam juice from the soup pot to the rue and cook till it begins to thicken, remember to stir constantly while thickening or you will burn your rue. Return the rue to the soup pot and allow the two to come together. Add cream and cook for 10 minutes.
• The last touch is to add your chopped clams - I add them last so they don't turn to rubber. Serve with a nice crusty bread.

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.

WESTCOAST STYLE CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In medium skillet lightly fry bacon over medium heat; drain off fat and discard. Add onions to bacon and saute approximately 3 minutes. Do not brown.
• In a large stock pot add water and bring to boil. Once boiling add carrots, baby clams (including liquid), clam juice, potatoes, salt and pepper.
• Using a food processor or blender, puree tomatoes. Add to stock pot along with bacon-onion mixture and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots and potatoes are tender. Do not overcook.
• Stir in celery and ketchup and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Slowly add milk, stirring constantly while bringing just to boiling.
• Finally, add instant potato flakes and cook for 3 minutes.
• Adjust seasoning to taste. If soup is not to your desired thickness add more instant potato flakes, about 2 tablespoons at a time.
• Remove soup from heat and let sit for about 15 minutes before serving.