New England Portuguese Clam Boil Recipes

Steps:

• De-beard and de-sand the mussels and clams. You may also be able to buy them already cleaned. Cut the chorizo into 6 large pieces (approximately 4 inch lengths).
• In a large pot add the potatoes first, then the onion and chorizo.
• Add the 2 bottles of beer and then enough water to cover the chorizo. Add a generous bit of salt and pepper and then a pinch of pepper flakes if you want some extra heat. Cover and bring the pot to a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are almost tender.
• Add the clams and muscles and continue to boil for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the clams and muscles have popped open.
• Serve with a small bowl of melted butter and lemon juice and another small bowl of the broth for dipping. Eat by pulling the seafood out of the shell, then dip into the broth to rinse any extra sand and then into the butter. Yum!

Steps:

• Wash and scrub clams well to remove exterior sand then place in a large soup pot with boiling water. Add garlic and 2 bay leaves. Cover and steam over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until the clams open. Discard any that do not open. Remove clams from shells, roughly chop, and set aside. Strain the broth through cheesecloth as an added precaution to remove any grit.
• Melt butter in the soup pot, saute potatoes, celery and onion for 5 minutes until soft and well coated. Add salt pork, thyme, and remaining bay leaves. Make a roux by sprinkling in flour and stirring until dissolved. Add the reserved clam broth, bring to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue to simmer, stirring, for 15 minutes until thickened.
• Add the chopped clams, bottled clam juice and sea salt. Pour in the cream and milk, cover, and cook until heated through. Add the fish fillets and continue to simmer another 5 minutes until the fish is opaque. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with oyster crackers or crusty bread.

Steps:

• 1. Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat and add the olive oil and bay leaves. As soon as the bay leaves turn brown, add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 30 seconds or until it is golden. Add the onions, bell pepper, and allspice and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the onions and peppers are softened but not browned.
• 2. Add the potatoes and stock; if the stock doesn't cover the potatoes, add just enough water to cover them. Turn up the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously for about 10 minutes, until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center.
• 3. Reduce the heat to medium, add the tomatoes and sausage, and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the mixture assertively with salt and pepper (you want to almost overseason the chowder at this point, to avoid having to stir it much once the fish is added).
• 4. Add the whole fillets and cook for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat, gently stir in the cilantro, and allow the chowder to sit for 10 minutes. (The fish will finish cooking during this time.) If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit for up to an hour at room temperature, allowing the flavors to meld.
• 5. When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boll. Use a slotted spoon to mound the chunks of hake, the chouriço, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls, and ladle the savory tomato broth over. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.