Spicy Southwestern Clam Chowder Recipes

SPICY CLAM AND CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the chowder: In a soup pot or a Dutch oven, heat the EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the corn and cook until the kernels are lightly browned at the edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the seafood seasoning, thyme, garlic, celery, bay leaves, chiles and onions, and cook until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat.
• For the croutons: Arrange the English muffin cubes on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until light golden. Melt the butter with the hot sauce. Place the croutons in a bowl and toss with the parsley, seafood seasoning and the butter mixture. Return to the rack set over the baking sheet and bake until deeply golden. Let cool.
• To finish the chowder: Place the clams and beer in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, and season with sea salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then cook at a rapid simmer until the clams open, 3 to 5 minutes. Discard any unopened clams.
• Divide the clams and the cooking liquid among 4 shallow bowls. Ladle the corn chowder over top and garnish with the croutons. Serve with hot sauce.
• Cook's Notes: You can make the chowder base up to 5 days ahead. Cool and store in the refrigerator, then reheat over a medium flame. Buy the clams within 48 hours of serving and cook them just before you're ready to serve.
• You can store the croutons in an airtight container or in a foil pouch until ready to use.

ZESTY MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Combine Italian-style tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, potatoes, onions, carrots, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, celery, and jalapeno peppers in a large stockpot.
• Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in chicken bouillon and beef bouillon cubes until dissolved. Pour over tomato mixture in the stockpot.
• Stir clam juice cocktail, sugar, thyme leaves, chili powder, garlic salt, black pepper, and bay leaf into the stockpot. Cook chowder, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Combine clams, milk, and flour in a separate saucepan; cook and stir over low heat until clams are heated through, about 7 minutes. Stir into the stockpot and simmer until flavors combine, about 30 minutes.

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.

CREAMY CHEESY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Steam clams open in a cup of wine in a heavy pot.
• Remove from pot and cool.
• Remove clams from shells.
• Rinse the clams well.
• Strain clam broth through a mesh screen or cheesecloth.
• Add strained broth, broth from canned baby clams, and enough bottled clam juice or water to equal 4 cups.
• Set aside.
• In a heavy pot over MEDIUM heat,cook bacon pieces till crisp add butter melt and cook the onion,celery, carrots, and garlic until translucent.
• Slowly stir in the flour and cook for two minutes, stirring well.
• Add reserved clam juices to the sauté mixture.
• Bring to a boil; whisking thoroughly to break up any lumps, and then reduce heat.
• Add creams and simmer 20 minutes.
• Add white pepper, thyme, potatoes, peas, and steamed clams& the can of baby clams.
• Add cheese till melted through.
• Do not allow to boil as this will toughen the clams.
• Season with salt and hot pepper sauce to taste.
• Garnish with scallions.

SPICY MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain clams-reserve liquid. Add water to clam liquid to make 3 cups.
• Partially cook bacon, stir in celery and onion and cook till tender Stir in tomatoes and juice, clam juice, potatoes, carrots, thyme, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp white (or black) pepper.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 min (till veggies are tender). Mash slightly to thicken.
• Stir in clams and heat through.