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This post was sponsored by the Idaho® Potato Commission. All opinions are my own.
There are soups. And then there are chowders. You’d best not lop them together into one kettle, or the chowder cops will come knocking at your door. Chowders, typically rich and creamy with chunks of seafood and vegetables, probably originated in France (since it’s thought the word ‘chowder’ comes from ‘chaudiere’, the pot fishermen used for cooking their catch up with potatoes and other vegetables), and brought to New England by French settlers.
Many moons ago, I lived in Boston, and for a month rented an apartment in Gloucester (pronounced Glawster). It was practically next door to a restaurant on the fishing wharves that had the best clam…
View Full Recipe at The Wimpy Vegetarian
,%20and%20brought%20to%20New%20England%20by%20French%20settlers.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMany%20moons%20ago,%20I%20lived%20in%20Boston,%20and%20for%20a%20month%20rented%20an%20apartment%20in%20Gloucester%20(pronounced%20Glawster).%20It%20was%20practically%20next%20door%20to%20a%20restaurant%20on%20the%20fishing%20wharves%20that%20had%20the%20best%20clam%20chowder%20I%E2%80%99ve%20still%20ever%20had.%20The%20locals%20treated%20it%20with%20reverence,%20and%20would%20never%20have%20referred%20to%20it%20as%20simply%20soup.%20They%20were%20fanatics%20about%20their%20New%20England%20clam%20chowder.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThat%20reverence%20comes%20close%20to%20how%20I%20feel%20about%20a%20bowl%20of%20Island%20Chowder%20I%20slurped%20down%20in%2010%20seconds%20a%20couple%20of%20months%20ago%20when%20we%20were%20vacationing%20on%20the%20island%20of%20Kauai.%20It%20was%20full%20of%20potatoes%20and%20clams,%20but%20lightened%20with%20coconut%20milk.%20Sounds%20simple,%20but%20I%20gave%20serious%20thought%20to%20infiltrating%20the%20kitchen%20and%20somehow%20stealing%20the%20whole%20pot.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAs%20soon%20as%20I%20got%20back%20home,%20I%20started%20to%20experiment.%20My%20friends%20at%20the%20Idaho%20Potato%20Commission%20had%20asked%20if%20I%E2%80%99d%20be%20interested%20in%20creating%20a%20recipe%20for%20them,%20so%20the%20stars%20were%20aligning%20for%20this%20recipe.%20I%20experimented%20a%20bit,%20but%20the%20broth%20I%20ended%20up%20with%20is%20an%20aromatic%20liquid%20of%20coconut%20milk,%20cow%20milk,%20ginger,%20garlic,%20limes,%20and%20a%20vegetable%20bouillon%20cube.%20Clams%20and%20potatoes,%20thickened%20with%20a%20light%20roux,%20are%20added%20to%20the%20pot%20along%20with%20clam%20broth.%20The%20finished%20chowder%20is%20topped%20with%20crushed%20macadamia%20nuts%20and%20a%20flurry%20of%20parsley.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECook%E2%80%99s%20Notes:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20use%20canned%20clams%20and%20the%20clam%20juice%20included%20in%20the%20can%20for%20a%20quick%20dinner,%20but%20feel%20free%20to%20steam%20your%20own.%20Coarsely%20chop,%20and%20add%20to%20the%20pot%20along%20with%20any%20juices.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EJust%20make%20sure%20to%20make%20a%20double%20batch.%20You%E2%80%99ll%20need%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20can%20mince%20your%20own%20ginger%20and%20garlic%20if%20that%E2%80%99s%20your%20thing.%20Or%20you%20can%20buy%20Stir-In%20Garlic%20Paste%20and%20Lightly%20Dried%20Ginger%20from%20Gourmet%20Garden.%20Up%20to%20you.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIdaho%C2%AE%20Potato%20Island%20Chowder%20%20%20%20Author:%20Susan%20Pridmore%20Recipe%20type:%20Soup%20Serves:%206%20servings%20%20%20Ingredients%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E2%2013.66-ounce%20cans%20lite%20coconut%20milk%202%20cups%202%25%20milk%203%20tablespoons%20minced%20ginger%202%20teaspoons%20minced%20garlic%20zest%20from%202%20limes%201%20cube%20vegetable%20bouillon%20cube%204%20tablespoons%20unsalted%20butter%202%20teaspoons%20minced%20lemongrass%20%E2%85%94%20cup%20finely%20chopped%20sweet%20onion%20%E2%85%94%20cup%20finely%20chopped%20celery%202%20tablespoons%20all-purpose%20flour%204%20cups%20peeled%20and%20diced%20Idaho%C2%AE%20russet%20potatoes%20(3%20large%20Idaho%C2%AE%20potatoes)%20%C2%BD%20cup%20vegetable%20broth%202%20tins%20chopped%20clams%20with%20clam%20juice%20(there%20should%20be%20a%20total%20of%20%C2%BD%20cup%20clam%20juice)%20%C2%BC%20teaspoon%20ground%20black%20pepper%20salt,%20if%20needed%206%20macadamia%20nuts,%20crushed,%20for%20garnish%201%20tablespoon%20chopped%20Italian%20parsley%20for%20garnish%20%20%20Instructions%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EStir%20together%20the%20milks,%20ginger,%20garlic,%20lime%20zest,%20and%20bouillon%20cube%20in%20a%20large,%20heavy-bottomed%20pot%20over%20medium-high%20heat.%20A%20Le%20Creuset%20pot%20is%20perfect%20for%20this!%20Bring%20the%20liquid%20to%20a%20gentle%20simmer,%20and%20continue%20to%20cook%20for%2010%20minutes.%20Remove%20from%20the%20heat%20and%20put%20a%20lid%20on%20the%20pot%20to%20keep%20the%20chowder%20broth%20warm.%20Melt%20the%20butter%20in%20a%20large%20skillet%20over%20medium%20heat.%20Once%20the%20butter%20is%20bubbling,%20add%20the%20lemongrass,%20sweet%20onion,%20and%20celery.%20Saut%C3%A9%20the%20vegetables%20until%20softened,%20about%2010%20minutes.%20Sprinkle%20the%20flour%20over%20the%20softened%20lemongrass,%20onion,%20and%20celery,%20and%20vigorously%20whisk%20it%20all%20together%20to%20completely%20coat%20the%20vegetables.%20Cook%20for%205%20%E2%80%93%207%20minutes,%20frequently%20tossing%20around%20the%20skillet,%20or%20until%20it%20all%20begins%20to%20lightly%20brown.%20Add%20the%20diced%20potatoes,%20and%20gradually%20whisk%20in%20the%20vegetable%20broth,%20a%20little%20at%20a%20time.%20Stir%20in%20the%20clams%20and%20clam%20juice,%20bring%20to%20a%20simmer,%20and%20cook%20for%2010%20minutes,%20or%20until%20the%20liquid%20thickens%20into%20a%20sauce-like%20consistency.%20Pour%20everything%20into%20the%20large%20pot%20holding%20the%20warm%20coconut%20milk%20broth,%20add%20the%20black%20pepper,%20and%20continue%20to%20simmer%20for%205%20minutes%20to%20meld%20together%20the%20flavors.%20Correct%20for%20salt%20if%20needed.%20(The%20vegetable%20bouillon%20cube%20typically%20provides%20all%20the%20salt%20needed.)%20Ladle%20into%20chowder%20bowls.%20Crush%20the%20macadamia%20nuts%20using%20the%20flat%20side%20of%20a%20chef%E2%80%99s%20knife%20and%20sprinkle%20over%20each%20bowl%20along%20with%20a%20pinch%20of%20parsley.%20%20%20Notes%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPrep%20Tip:%20Smash%20the%20lemongrass%20stalk%20with%20the%20flat%20side%20of%20a%20knife,%20and%20thrash%20it%20against%20a%20work%20surface%20to%20split%20and%20open%20it%20up%20before%20mincing.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EVegetarian%20Tip:%20To%20make%20this%20chowder%20vegetarian,%20eliminate%20the%20clams%20and%20clam%20juice,%20add%20an%20additional%20%C2%BD%20cup%20of%20vegetable%20broth,%20and%20another%20russet%20potato.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E3.4.3177%3C/p%3E){kind=link}