Captain Rasmussens Clam Chowder Recipes

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.

CAPTAIN PARKER'S CHOWDER

Steps:

• Put the salt pork on a plate and wrap in plastic. Cook in microwave for 2 1/2 minutes. Meanwhile, make roux with the same amounts of butter and flour. Add 3/4 pound of flour to 3/4 pound of the butter and stir. Make the roux pourable but not too loose or too thick. Begin to cook on low flame or in an oven until the roux is nice and hot. In a heavy bottomed pot, put the remaining 1/4 pound butter and the salt pork. After the salt pork gets lightly browned, take the chunks out. Add the onion, celery and herbs, let it saute for about 5 minutes. Add water and potatoes and bring it to a boil. Then add the clam base, keep stirring so the base and potatoes don't stick or burn to the bottom of the pan. Add the clams and their juice. When the potatoes become slightly tender bring everything back to a boil and start adding the hot roux. Turn the flame down a little and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes. Slowly add the light cream to the base until you get the right creamy chowder, not too thick or thin. Season with salt and pepper.

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
• Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Bring bottled clam juice and potatoes to boil in heavy large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until bacon begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add onions, celery, garlic and bay leaf and sauté until vegetables soften, about 6 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes (do not allow flour to brown). Gradually whisk in reserved juices from clams. Add potato mixture, clams, half and half and hot pepper sauce. Simmer chowder 5 minutes to blend flavors, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Bring to simmer before serving.)

THE CAPTAIN'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Open clams. Retain all of the clam juice. Separate clams, then chop. You can use a blender, but be sure not to cut the clams up too fine.
• Fry the bacon slowly, and just before it is done, add the onions, saute for 1 minute, add the pepper and the clam juice, bring to a boil. Add potatoes.
• When the potatoes are half done, add the chopped clams. After the chowder starts to simmer again, allow it to finish cooking. you can put a spoonful of rice in individual bowls before serving.

CAPTAIN RASMUSSEN'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Scrub clams well. Steam them in water. Remove clams from shells. Chop clams finely; reserve. Strain clam broth; reserve. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onion, carrot, and green pepper and sauté over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Do not brown. Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato purée, potatoes, rosemary, thyme, salt, white and black peppers, and clam broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, simmer covered for 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Add chopped clams. Heat almost to the boiling point. Note: If fresh clams are not available, 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice and 2 (6 1/2-ounce) cans minced clams and their liquid may be substituted.