We’ve been away. In Arizona. Where it was high twenty, low thirty degrees (Celsius). I’m sorry you were still in winter, while I was enjoying endless sun and dry warmth in Arizona. Well, not really sorry. I may have even rubbed it in with some weather network posts. It was truly wonderful. It was liberating not to have that 10-minute dressing routine even before you step outside. My feet rejoiced! No socks! My feet weren’t freezing to death even though they were covered in wool and leather. I could totally get used to it. But now we’re back in reality and cooking warming and hearty dishes like we did for Super Bowl.
We hosted another Super Bowl party in February and you guessed it, the theme was the cuisine of the teams playing! I’ve always wanted to make an authentic clam chowder with oyster crackers so I took advantage of this serendipitous opportunity. The clams were sweet and the chowder was creamy and delicious. The party was a grand success and New England lost, now that’s karma, don’t you think?
New England Clam Chowder
Makes 1.75 L of chowder.
For the original recipe please click here.
Ingredients:
- 300 g Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 135 g finely chopped French shallots
- 160 g chopped celery (about 2 large stalks)
- 10 g garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 32 g all-purpose flour
- 282 g Vongole baby clams, drained, juices reserved
- 300 mL evaporated milk (not condense)
- Pinch of smoked paprika
- sea salt to taste
Directions:
- Bring the potatoes to a boil in the reserved clam juice topped up with water to cover. Turn down to medium heat and simmer until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat, drain potatoes, reserve the liquid and set both aside.
- Melt butter in a heavy bottomed large pot, sauté shallots and celery with the bay leaf until soft. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the flour and stir on low heat for two minutes, without allowing the flour to brown. Whisk in the reserved potato clam liquid with a pinch of smoked paprika. Cook until thickened.
- Add the baby clams and the evaporated milk and stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes. This chowder is much better the second day so if you are making this chowder in advance, refrigerate until cold, then re-heat on low when required.
A rich clam chowder with delicious clam bits in every bite.
A flavourful cracker that does not disintegrate in the chowder.
Lemon Pepper Oyster Crackers
Makes 150 g of crackers. For the original recipe, please click here.
To print recipe, please click here.
Ingredients:
- 145 g 00 flour
- 5 g sea salt
- 2 g freshly ground black pepper
- 5 g sugar
- 5 g baking powder
- 1 g freshly grated lemon zest
- 30 g unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 70 mL cold water, or enough to make a smooth dough
Directions:
- Combine flour, salt, pepper, sugar, baking powder and lemon zest in the small bowl of your food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- Drop the butter into the flour mix and pulse until it has been incorporated and is mealy. Slowly add the water while processing, add only enough to make a dough that holds together.
- Turn out to a lightly floured surface and form into a solid round. Allow to rest 15 minutes.
- Pre-heat the oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll dough to about 2 mm thick and cut with very small cookie cutters (or cut with a knife into diamond shapes). Bake for 15 minutes, then turn the oven off and open the door and allow to cool and crisp up for an additional 30 minutes. Serve with New England Clam Chowder.
Kitcheninspirations 