Best Homemade California Clam Chowder Recipes

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat add the bacon and cook until slightly crisp and no longer pink. Remove it to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook until tender. Add the flour and stir.
• Add in the juice from the clams, chicken broth, milk, and half and half, then stir until there aren't any clumps. Add in the potatoes.
• Bring the pot to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer until the potatoes are tender and the soup is thick. Stir in the clams and salt and pepper to taste. Top with crumbled bacon and serve.

CREAMY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the onion, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Stir in potato soup and two cans of undrained clams. Drain and discard juice from remaining can of clams; add clams to soup. , Combine cornstarch and a 1 cup of cream until smooth; stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Gradually stir in the remaining cream; heat through.

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.

THE BEST DAMN CLAM CHOWDER EVER

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, brown prosciutto, or bacon over medium-low heat until crisp.
• Add the onion and cook until softened.
• Add the flour and stir until lightly colored, about a minute.
• Slowly whisk in the clam broth, reserved clam liquid, potatoes, bay leaf and thyme. Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the clams, cream, fresh parsley, salt and white pepper.
• Bring to a simmer and serve immediately.
• (You may substitute any type of shellfish, or even fish for the clams in this recipe.).

BEST HOMEMADE CALIFORNIA CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain clams and reserve clam juice. Slice bacon and cook in pan on medium heat until just done. Remove bacon and half of bacon grease.
• Chop potatoes, celery, onion and garlic. Add chopped potatoes to (bacon) pan and cook on medium heat until potatoes are just tender...about 15 minutes.
• Pour removed half of bacon grease into large soup pot and saute onion, garlic and celery, until translucent, about 10 minutes.
• On low heat in small pot, melt the butter then add the flour slowly and with a high heat spatula and stir until smooth to create the roux.
• Stir in flour roux, the half and half, the clam juice, salt and pepper to the vegetables in the large soup pot. Stir well. Add clams and bacon. Reduce heat and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.

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.

MONTEREY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place vegetables, bacon and margarine in a 5 quart sauce pot.
• Saute over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Be careful not to brown or scorch.
• When vegetables are tender, add flour to make a roux.
• Cook for two minutes, allowing flour to cook while stirring occasionally.
• Add clam juice and dairy products.
• Stir by using a wire whip.
• Add fresh garlic, black pepper, and chopped clams.
• Cook over low-medium heat stirring occasionally to prevent chowder from scorching.
• Cook for two hours or until chowder is brought to desired thickness. If a crockpot, or small steam kettle is available, it is recommended.
• Also, clam juice can be added to thin chowder down if it gets too thick.
• Cook for about 1 1/2 hours. The chowder needs to be stirred OFTEN, probably about every 5-10 minutes or so or it will stick to the bottom of the pot.