Dans Bristol Clam Chowder Food

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Rinse the clams in several changes of cold water and drain well. Tip the clams into a large pan with 500ml of water. Cover, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 mins until the clams have just opened. Tip the contents of the pan into a colander over a bowl to catch the clam stock. When cool enough to handle, remove the clams from their shells - reserving a handful of empty shells for presentation if you want. Strain the clam stock into a jug, leaving any grit in the bottom of the bowl. You should have around 800ml stock.
• Heat the butter in the same pan and sizzle the bacon for 3-4 mins until it starts to brown. Stir in the onion, thyme and bay and cook everything gently for 10 mins until the onion is soft and golden. Scatter over the flour and stir in to make a sandy paste, cook for 2 mins more, then gradually stir in the clam stock then the milk and the cream.
• Throw in the potatoes, bring everything to a simmer and leave to bubble away gently for 10 mins or until the potatoes are cooked. Use a fork to crush a few of the potato chunks against the side of the pan to help thicken - you still want lots of defined chunks though. Stir through the clam meat and the few clam shells, if you've gone down that route, and simmer for a minute to reheat. Season with plenty of black pepper and a little salt, if needed, then stir through the parsley just before ladling into bowls or hollowed-out crusty rolls.

CREAMY CANADIAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Pan-fry bacon in a medium heavy skillet over moderate heat until crisp. Drain and crumble bacon; set aside.
• Add onion and celery to pan and sauté over moderate heat until tender but not brown. In a large heavy saucepan, combine onions, celery, drained potatoes, chicken bouillon, clam juice and enough water to cover potatoes.
• Cook, partially covered, over moderate heat for about 10 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender.
• Stir in 2 cups milk; simmer another 5 minutes and add seasonings to taste.
• Reduce heat; add clams until they are heated through.
• Combine the rest of the milk and flour, blending until smooth; stir mixture into chowder.
• Heat chowder over low to moderate heat, stirring constantly, until chowder is bubbly hot and slightly thickened.
• Add cooked bacon.
• Adjust seasoning to taste.
• If possible refrigerate chowder, covered, for 24 hours to develop flavors.

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.

DAN'S BRISTOL CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Boil diced potatos (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch) part way (still need to be firm or will eventually turn to mush) in large pot.
• Melt butter in separate pan and cook, bacon, diced carrots and diced onions until softened.
• Add spices (except chives) to bacon & vegetables and cook for additional 2 minutes. Cut bacon in to small pieces (minced).
• Drain potatos and add lemon juice,clam juice, half and half, white wine and cooked vegetables & bacon w/spices (no chives) to pot.
• We soak our ears of corn, grill them,cut off kernels and add to pot with potatoes - adds some grilled flavor.
• Simmer soup over low heat for 45 minutes.
• Add clams (drained w/exception of 1 cup of clam juice from cans) and flour as needed to thicken (we like our soup thick, but add a little at a time as it will thicken more as it cooks). Soup should have thickness of thin pudding.
• Simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with warm buttered bread and enjoy!

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat 1 litre of water in a large pan over a high heat. Once boiling, tip in the clams. Cover with a lid and cook for 2-3 mins until the majority of the clam shells have opened. Pour into a sieve over a large jug, reserving the cooking water. Tip the reserved liquid through a muslin-lined sieve into a large non stick saucepan and set aside - this is your stock for the soup.
• Discard any clams which haven't opened, then remove three-quarters of the clams from their shells and roughly chop.
• Put the bay leaf in the pan with the clam stock and tip in the potato and parsnip cubes. Cook for 5-7 mins until tender. Use a slotted spoon to remove half of the potato and parsnip and set aside. Fish out the bay leaf, spoon off any scum from the surface of the soup, then blitz the remaining stock and vegetables in a food processor until smooth, or using a stick blender.
• Using the same saucepan over a medium heat, pour in the oil, add the bacon lardons, fry until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion to the pan, cook for 5 mins until soft, then pour in the blitzed chowder, potato and parsnip. Heat until simmering, then tip in the chopped clams, take off the heat and stir through the crème fraîche, adding lemon juice to taste. Serve, topped with the crispy bacon, reserved clams in their shells and a scattering of chives and black pepper.