pacific northwest clam chowder
Although creamy clam chowder is usually associated with the New England region of our country, my ancestors might differ on the subject! As settlers in the northwest "Territory of Washington," they cooked with an abundance of salmon, oysters, crabs and clams from the cold waters of the Pacific. Having grown up in Oregon, I have fond memories of visiting a tiny restaurant in Seaside called, "Mo's" where they served the best clam chowder on earth! This recipe is my attempt to re-live the memories of Mo's awesome clam chowder!
prep time
25 Min
cook time
35 Min
method
---
yield
6 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups organic half & half (may substitute 1 cup milk to reduce fat)
- 1 cup organic chicken broth or stock
- 1 cup clam juice drained and reserved from cans. if using fresh clams, purchase snow's all-natural clam juice (8 oz.)
- 3 cans fancy whole baby clams (10 oz.) - if you can buy 30 oz. of fresh clams, even better!
- 1 pound organic small red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
- 1 - loaf crusty sourdough bread, warmed
How To Make pacific northwest clam chowder
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Step 1Wrap a loaf of sourdough bread in foil and place it in the oven. Warm at 200 degrees while you prepare and cook your chowder.
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Step 2Chop up your small red-skinned potatoes. (Tip: the first part of cooking this chowder happens fast, and it's easy to scald, so it's important to have all ingredients measured and ready to add to the saucepan as you're cooking.) -
Step 3Chop up your shallot. Open and drain cans of clams, reserving 1 cup of clam juice to set aside.
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Step 4In a large saucepan, heat oil and add chopped shallot. Cook shallot on low to medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add wine, continue stirring, and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in flour, a little at a time, stirring constantly, and cook about 30 seconds.
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Step 5Gradually stir in half & half and chicken broth. As mixture begins to simmer, add the reserved clam juice (8 oz).
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Step 6Add potatoes. Cover and simmer on very low heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Check simmer and stir occasionally to prevent scalding. (Check potatoes by piercing with a fork to ensure they are done.)
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Step 7When potatoes are tender, add clams, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper. Again bring to a light simmer, and turn off heat.
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Step 8Remove bread from oven and slice to serve with chowder.
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Step 9Ladle clam chowder into bowls, and top with chopped parsley if desired. Serve with slices of warm crusty bread and butter.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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