Creamy New England Gluten Free Clam Chowder
It just amazes me how difficult it is to order soup in a restaurant that does not contain gluten. Written somewhere in the holy book of restaurants is the phrase, “Though Shall Not Make Gluten Free Soup.” Sheesh. Well, let it be known far and wide that Flour Farm is here to remedy that situation. Behold one of our favorite soups: Creamy New England Gluten Free Clam Chowder. Yes! Having grown up in the Northeast, I frequently crave a comforting bowl of chowder, New England style. However, finding gluten free chowder in my local eateries in the Pacific Northwest has proven near impossible. When I can’t find it, I make it. And this recipe, is a home run.
Creamy New England Chowder: Making the Ultimate Comfort Food
The best part of making clam chowder is the ease of cooking. If you choose to make it with fresh clams, the process may take longer, but fresh is always worth it. To make chowder with our recipe, you will need 2 1/2 cups of clam juice. This is the approximate amount that you will have if you use 3- 6.5 oz cans of diced clams (we use Bar Harbor), plus one 8 oz jar of clam juice OR 5 lbs of fresh clams steamed in 3 cups of water. The directions for using fresh clams are in the “Notes” section of the recipe.
In addition to clam juice, we add homemade vegetable or chicken stock – whichever we happen to have on hand. We also use leek instead of onion, fresh bay leaves, thyme, garlic and shallot. A cup of cream, 1/4 cup of Flour Farm flour, and potatoes provide the necessary, creamy comfort. Our recipe is not a goopy, gloppy, heavy chowder. If you desire a thicker consistency, simply add more flour by the tablespoon, more cream or additional potatoes.
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Did you enjoy your creamy New England Gluten Free Clam Chowder? Please reach out and leave a comment and rating in the section provided below. We love to hear from you!
An important note: this recipe successfully uses Flour Farm Organic Gluten Free Flour Blend. Flour Farm may be purchased through our website or through our partners: Amazon.com & Azure Standard. If you choose to make this with another flour blend, please note that your results may differ.
Peace & LOVE – Teri
P.S. Flour Farm gives back. We are committed to bringing healthy food to members of our community. If you are looking for replacement ingredients, please consider supporting Flour Farm and 2nd Harvest by clicking on this Amazon Associate link. We donate 50% of the profit made from Amazon purchases to 2nd Harvest, which is a local organization dedicated to feeding our children, our community and helping those in need. You will be sent directly to Amazon.com; we do not store any of your information. Thank you and share the love.
– Teri & Dave
Recipe Inspiration: Chowdah; Photos by DuPree Productions; Recipe updated 6.20 for clarity and photos
Making Gluten Free New England Clam Chowder
Gluten Free New England Clam Chowder
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Creamy New England Gluten Free Clam Chowder is a rich and delicious comfort food that invites family and friends to come to the table and share the love. Use canned or fresh clams – it’s all good!
Ingredients
Choose Gluten Free, Non-GMO, & Organic ingredients.
Substitutions: Do you need suggestions to swap out an ingredient? Click here.
Heat
- 28g (1 oz) Salted Butter (2T) or Avocado Oil
Saute
- 1 Medium Leek, white and light green parts only – thinly sliced (onion works, too!)
- 2 Medium Celery Stalks, sliced or diced as desired
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- 1 Shallot, minced
- 1/2 tsp Extra Fine Pink Himalayan Salt (3g – omit if using salted butter and broth)
Add
- 454g (16 oz or 1 lb) Yukon Gold or Russet Potatoes, cut into 1/2″ or 1.25cm pieces (about 3 medium)
- 27g (1 oz) Flour Farm Organic Gluten Free Flour Blend (1/4 C spoon & level) – use 1/3 C for thicker chowder
- 946 ml (32 fl. oz) Stock or Broth of Choice (4 C or 1 qt)
- If using fresh clams – omit the next two ingredients and refer to the note below
- 236 ml (8 fl. oz) Clam Juice
- 3 –6.5 oz Cans of Chopped Clams, prepared – drain into a measuring cup and set aside clam juice
- 2 Fresh Bay Leaves
- 3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 2–3 Sprigs Fresh Parsley
- 236 ml (8 fl. oz) Heavy Cream, Half & Half, or Dairy Free Milk (1 C)
- Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper to Taste (we like to add Borsari Seasoning Salt)
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh Parsley or other herbs such as Dill, Fennel Fronds, or Thyme, chopped
- Steamed Fresh Clams, in the shell (about 1/2 lb or 227g fresh clams should be enough)
- Bacon – see note below
Instructions
Equipment: Digital Scale (preferred), Large Dutch Oven with lid, Knife & Cutting Board, Mixing Bowls, Measuring Cups & Spoons, Sturdy Spoon, Large Soup Bowls, Ladle
Before You Dive In – Prep: Please read!
- Prepare (steam) fresh clams, if using – see Notes below
- If using canned clams, separate juice and strain into a separate bowl or measuring cup
- Chop herbs for garnish
- Slice leek and celery
- Cut potatoes into 1/2″ cubes (1.25 cm)
Step 1: Melt the butter, (or heat the oil,) in a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat.
Step 2: Add the leek, celery, garlic, shallot and salt. Saute until vegetables are tender – about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Add the potatoes and flour. Stir frequently and cook for two minutes.
Step 4: Slowly pour in the broth and clam juice, (not the clams yet,) stirring briskly as you add the liquid to avoid lumps. Add fresh herbs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are fork tender – about 15-20 minutes. Avoid overcooking potatoes.
Step 5: Remove bay leaves and herb sprigs from chowder. Use an immersion blender for about 3 pulses, (or more depending on how thick you desire your chowder,) to blend a bit of potatoes into the soup. Alternatively, scoop out about 1-2 cups of chowder and blend separately. Return the blend to the chowder.
Step 6: Stir in cream and clams. Bring chowder back up to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 7: Ladle hot chowder into bowls and garnish with chopped herbs. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Notes
Bacon: This recipe does not contain bacon. If bacon is a must have in your chowder, begin by cooking four slices of your favorite bacon in the pot and use the grease instead of butter. Remove the cooked bacon, chop and set aside. Add the bacon with the clams or use as a garnish.
Fresh Clams: If using fresh clams, you will need about 5 lbs of freshly scrubbed clams. Bring 3 cups of water or broth to a boil in a large dutch oven or stock pot (broth adds a richer flavor). Add clams, cover the pot and steam in the liquid for about 5 minutes. Stir clams and remove any opened shells to a separate bowl. Continue to simmer and remove clams as they open. After a few minutes, all clams should be open. The few that remain shut need to be discarded. Remove the pot from the heat, and strain liquid into a measuring cup. Separate clams from their shells and chop if necessary. Strain any remaining liquid and add to the clam juice in the measuring cup. You should have (and need) about 2 1/2 cups (591 ml/20 fl oz). Fill the measuring cup with water to reach the required amount if short on clam juice. Special thanks to Carlsbad Cravings for how-to help.
Nutrition information provided below is for the recipe as written using organic salted butter, unsalted homemade chicken stock, and heavy cream. Each serving yields about 1.5 C (355 ml/12 fl oz).
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: soup
- Method: simmer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Bowl
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Creamy New England Gluten Free Clam Chowder
For more delicious, gluten free recipes by Flour Farm, click on this link!
For me, the best way to thicken chowders, soups, gravy, or stews is with instant mashed potatoes! You can even make a roux with it!
★★★★
Thank you!
We LOVE this recipe. We use fresh Manilla clams (PNW) and half and half. We also add a bit of heat with a dash of cayenne in our bowls. Thanks for making one of our favorite dishes gluten free!
★★★★★
Thank you! T & D