Pacific Seafoods Clam Chowder Recipes

PACIFIC SEAFOOD'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large, heavy casserole. Add the bacon and saute until crisp. Add the leek, onion and celery and saute until soft and barely golden.
• Stir in the seasonings, clam juice, clams, potatoes and white wine. Cook gently until the potatoes are tender.
• Add the light cream, salt and pepper. Thicken with equal parts flour and butter that have been mixed together.
• [Joan's note: Marranate tells me the chefs create a roux with the butter and flour. Without testing this recipe, I'm not sure how much roux you'll need, so you may as well make a lot. (It keeps well in the freezer, and you can use it to thicken other sauces and soups.).
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over very low heat, melt 1 stick of butter. Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the butter while whisking the mixture. Cook, whisking continuously, until the mixture is smooth and a pale golden color.
• Add 3/4 of the roux to the soup and continue to cook until the soup thickens. Add the remaining roux if you need it, cooking the soup a bit after the final addition.

NORTH PACIFIC CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. Saute onion and celery in the drippings. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender., Combine flour and cream until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the halibut, tarragon, salt, pepper and crumbled bacon. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with tarragon sprigs if desired.

OREGON COAST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Clean the clams and place them in a large pot along with the garlic and water.
• Steam the clams just until opened, about 6 to 10 minutes, depending upon their size.
• Drain and shell the clams, reserving the broth.
• Mince the clam flesh, and set aside.
• Filter the clam broth either through coffee filters or cheesecloth and set aside.
• In a large, heavy pot slowly cook the bacon.
• Remove from the grease and set them aside.
• Slowly cook the onions in the grease for about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until cooked through but not browned.
• Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
• Add the reserved clam broth and the fish stock, and whisk to remove any flour lumps.
• Bring the liquid to a boil, add the potatoes, lower the heat, and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the reserved clams and light cream.
• Heat the chowder until it is the temperature you like.
• Serve in large soup bowls with oyster crackers on the side.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Wrap a loaf of sourdough bread in foil and place it in the oven. Warm at 200 degrees while you prepare and cook your chowder.
• 2. Chop up your small red-skinned potatoes. (Tip: the first part of cooking this chowder happens fast, and it's easy to scald, so it's important to have all ingredients measured and ready to add to the saucepan as you're cooking.)
• 3. Chop up your shallot. Open and drain cans of clams, reserving 1 cup of clam juice to set aside.
• 4. In a large saucepan, heat oil and add chopped shallot. Cook shallot on low to medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add wine, continue stirring, and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in flour, a little at a time, stirring constantly, and cook about 30 seconds.
• 5. Gradually stir in half & half and chicken broth. As mixture begins to simmer, add the reserved clam juice (8 oz).
• 6. Add potatoes. Cover and simmer on very low heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Check simmer and stir occasionally to prevent scalding. (Check potatoes by piercing with a fork to ensure they are done.)
• 7. When potatoes are tender, add clams, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper. Again bring to a light simmer, and turn off heat.
• 8. Remove bread from oven and slice to serve with chowder.
• 9. Ladle clam chowder into bowls, and top with chopped parsley if desired. Serve with slices of warm crusty bread and butter.