Santa Barbara Clam Chowder Recipes

Steps:

• In a small pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted, slowly mix in the flour until you have a thick consistency. Set aside and keep warm until ready to use. This is the roux.
• In a 3-gallon stock pot, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the garlic, celery, and onions along with the bay leaves, salt, and white pepper. Cook the mixture until it is lightly browned, stirring it occasionally. Add the clam juice, stir, and let it cook until it is moderately warm. Then add the potatoes and bring the chowder to a boil, stirring it occasionally. Once the soup is boiling add the chopped clams, bacon, cream, and thyme. Stir the soup and let it cook until hot, do not bring it to a boil. Remove the soup from the heat and slowly stir in the roux until the desired consistency is reached.

Steps:

• Place potatoes in medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to boil. Simmer until tender, 20 minutes. Drain.
• Cook bacon and onion in heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until onion is tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in flour and cook 2 minutes. Add juices from clams, bottled clam juice, cream and milk. Bring to boil. Stir in clams and potatoes and heat through.

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chorizo; sauté until fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Add next 6 ingredients; sauté until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Mix in oregano and cumin, then tomatoes, corn, and bottled clam juice. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until potatoes are almost tender, about 12 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cool, then cover and chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
• Add clams to mixture in pot; cover and cook over medium-high heat until clams open and potatoes are tender, about 7 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Mix in 4 tablespoons cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide clams among 6 shallow soup bowls. Ladle chowder over. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve.
• A smoked-pork link sausage flavored with garlic and spices, but milder than Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo is available at Spanish markets and specialty foods stores.