Chunky Vegetable Clam Chowder

"My first bowl of Clam Chowder in a quaint little restaurant in San Francisco had me knowing I loved this wonderful chowder. While we have enjoyed a good many recipes since, this one has become not only our favorite but a given for our evening meal on Christmas Eve 'our family tradition in the making' We often add an extra can of clams. The original recipe calls for an optional 1/2 teaspoon Curry Powder which we have yet to give a try. Serving size - a guesstimate!"
 
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photo by Baby Kato photo by Baby Kato
photo by Baby Kato
photo by Baby Kato photo by Baby Kato
photo by teresas photo by teresas
photo by Outta Here photo by Outta Here
photo by CountryLady photo by CountryLady
Ready In:
45mins
Ingredients:
13
Serves:
6

ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon (may add an extra slice or two)
  • 2 cups cubed potatoes (I often add more)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped carrot (I use a very coarse grate)
  • 12 cup chopped onion (I like to use leeks)
  • 12 cup chopped celery, I add the celery (optional)
  • 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed chicken broth (I use chicken stock)
  • 1 (6 1/2 ounce) can minced clams (drained and liquid reserved)
  • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk (I use half and half or cream)
  • 12 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 18 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons shortening (I use Crisco)
  • 2 tablespoons flour
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directions

  • In a large pot add bacon (I cut into bite size pieces) saute lightly.
  • Add in onions (and the celery which is optional) and saute briefly.
  • Add Chicken broth (I often use two cans of both the broth and the clams) potatoes, carrots, reserved clam juice, salt, pepper and simmer until vegetables are done.
  • Add in the milk, clams and chopped parsley stirring frequently until heated through.
  • You may wish to serve at this point but we make a roux melting shortening in a heavy pan, adding the flour browning to golden brown and whisking into chowder.
  • This can be prepared a day ahead, cool, cover and refrigerate bringing to a simmer (carefully stirring to prevent burning) before serving.

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Reviews

  1. Oh!...Oh!...Oh!...Clam, (I mean calm) down now...inhale, exhale, relax. This has to be the best dish ever. DH said "it can't get any better". Have your ever seen the show "The best thing I ever ate"? Well this is it. I did get gusty and used the curry. This is a "I died and gone to Heaven" dish. Tagged it in "The best of 2009" tag game. And guess what??? It's going in my "Best of 2010" cookbook. See you in our next tagging game. Thanks for posting. :)
     
  2. WoW!!! ...I made this tonight and it was clearly the best Clam chowder I have ever made. Every one loved it!!!...It will be very high on my regular rotation list ..It was very easy to make and the only change I made was to use two cans of clams and added one half t. curry and used corn starch to thicken it...Awsome!!!! Thank you Gerry for posting a great recipe....
     
  3. Wow! Is this ever one great bowl of chowder! I made as directed, increasing all as indicated by Gerry's instructions, although I did not use leeks and did add the celery. I used 4 slices of bacon, two cans of clams, heavy cream and also added the roux (using butter instead of Crisco). May very well be the best clam chowder I've ever tasted. Very simple to prepare and can be ready within about an hour. What are you waiting for? Thanks, Gerry!
     
  4. Great bowl of chowder. Very hearty. We really like lots of "stuff" in our chowder and this fit the bill. Made as written, wouldn't change a thing! Thanks for a great New Year's Eve dinner! Made for Partying The Diabetic Way game.
     
  5. Gerry, Gerry, Gerry, I love being the beneficiary of someone's good cooking and in particular someone's good cooking of your very excellent Chunky Vegetable Clam Chowder. I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch at Country Lady's new home (Ponderosa Revisited), last Monday. The company was top drawer, the ambiance soothing and relaxed, and your chowder so full of flavour, I could barely restrain myself from picking up the bowl and licking it clean. Except for the tell-tale chowder in my chin dimple, noone would ever know. I am appreciative of your good recipe, Gerry, and grateful you are a ZAARian.... Come One, Come All, enjoy Gerry 999's Chunky Vegetable Chowder.... One regret... we are limited to 5-star comments.
     
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Tweaks

  1. This was good and easy to make. I had never made clam chowder before and hubby loves it so I thought I would give it a try. I didn't add the carrots but added extra potatoes. I didn't add the optional celery. I also used two cans of chicken broth and three cans of chopped clams. I used cream instead of milk. I only used one tablespoon of parsley. I did add flour to thicken it up but not the shortening. Next time I would double the pepper and maybe cut back on the potatoes a bit.
     
  2. Wow! Is this ever one great bowl of chowder! I made as directed, increasing all as indicated by Gerry's instructions, although I did not use leeks and did add the celery. I used 4 slices of bacon, two cans of clams, heavy cream and also added the roux (using butter instead of Crisco). May very well be the best clam chowder I've ever tasted. Very simple to prepare and can be ready within about an hour. What are you waiting for? Thanks, Gerry!
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>I live in Saskatchewan where hospitality and food go hand in hand. Community suppers, Beef Pit Barbecues, Church suppers, potlucks, tea and bake sales, booths at the curling and hockey rinks in winter, the ball games in summer. What is truly the spirit of Saskatchewan is that these events are for most part the efforts of community volunteers sharing their time as well as their best make and takes. Small communities along with the larger centres across the province are well known for their turkey suppers, cabbage rolls, perogies and overflowing dessert tables. Homemade of course! <br /> <br />I love preparing meals for my family and friends and in the sharing of good recipes be they mine or that of another. My posted recipes are recipes that are family favorites. My reviews here on Zaar allow that I have been most fortunate in the choosing of the recipes I have made. Without doubt we all love those over the top desserts and dishes to serve on special occasions and for those fives are a given. For me equally important are the recipes used in the daily meal preparation. Recipes enjoyed by my family be it a simple soup, salad or casserole are right up there with the 'over the tops' and share equal billing. Yes five star ratings ... if my family enjoyed, I would serve to invited guests, take to a pot luck, coffee hour or bake sale. <br /></p> <p>Aside from cooking and baking I admit that my interest in gardening exceeds that of the norm. I collect cookbooks, my favorites being the community and church cookbooks that have everyone sharing their favorite recipes. Enjoy yard sales on occasion but tend to keep my hands in my pockets, cannot completely resist when it comes to the glassware, baskets and of course cookbooks. I take great pleasure in reading with non fiction being my first choice when it comes to the choosing.</p>
 
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