Best Santa Barbara Clam Chowder Recipes

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain the clams, adding the juice from the cans to a large stock pot. Set the clams aside.
• Add chicken broth and diced potatoes to the pot (the liquid should just barely cover the potatoes). Bring to a simmer, add the bay leaf, and cook until the potatoes are barely fork tender, about 5-6 minutes.
• While the potatoes cook, in a second pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the onions, celery, bell peppers and garlic and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
• Stir in the flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually stir in the milk and half and half, whisking as you add them to break up any clumps of flour. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until the thickened, about 5 minutes
• Stir the creamy mixture into the potatoes. Stir in the salt, pepper, vinegar, and reserved clams. Cook for 5 more minutes.

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.

BARBRA BUSH'S ALL AMERICAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp.
• Drain on paper towel.
• Saute onion in same skillet as bacon until soft.
• Add clam juice& potatoes.
• Cover& cook over low heat until potatoes are tender, 15 min.
• Melt butter in sauce pan.
• Add flour& mix together.
• Add milk& blend until smooth.
• Add clam juice& potatoes; cook& stir until thickened.
• Add soup, bacon, clams,& pepper; cook over low heat until heated through, Serve with oyster crackers, if desired.

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.

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add onions and saute until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Don't allow the onions to brown at all. Carefully add the vermouth and stir with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the vermouth is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Strain clams and reserve juice. Add clam juice and reduce a little, and then add cream and reduce by half. Add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Add potato soup and bring to a simmer. Add clams and cook just until clams are warm. Taste for seasoning, and add truffle oil, if using. Serve in sourdough bowl. Top with chopped parsley.