Ingredients for Sam’s Favorite Clam Chowder
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Base Ingredients (things that go into the pot first)
- 2 cans of clams (6.5 oz) with the juice
- 8 oz bottle of clam juice
- 1 small zucchini, peeled and roughly chopped into ½-inch cubes
- 1 cup cooked rice (used as a thickener)
- ⅓ cup onion, slightly chopped
- ½ cup real celery
- 2 TBSP butter
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Seasonings & Thickening Agents (added after simmering, if you don’t have ALL of these, it will still be tasty!)
- ½ TEA celery salt
- ½ TEA garlic powder plus 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- ⅛ TEA white pepper
- ¼ TEA smoked paprika
- ¼ TEA dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 TBS gluten-free flour (mix with a little soup to moisten it before adding)
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Creamy Ingredients & Finishing Touches (added last)
- 3 oz cream cheese
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1 TBSP lemon juice
Optional: Garnish with parsley
Directions for Sam’s Favorite Clam Chowder
In a pot, combine two cans of clams (with their juice), one small peeled zucchini chopped into ½-inch cubes, one cup of cooked rice, ⅓ cup chopped onion, 1 cup (8oz) clam juice, ½ cup chopped celery, and two tablespoons of butter. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
After 5–7 minutes, when the zucchini has softened, stir in ½ teaspoon of celery salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder along with two minced fresh garlic cloves, ⅛ teaspoon of white pepper, ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme, and one bay leaf. In a small bowl, mix one tablespoon of gluten-free flour with a bit of the hot soup to form a smooth paste, then stir it back into the pot to thicken the chowder.
Once everything is well combined, add three ounces of cream cheese, 1½ cups of heavy cream, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Allow the cream cheese to melt, then stir or whisk until the mixture is smooth. Let the chowder cool slightly before blending it with an immersion blender or Vitamix, leaving some clam pieces whole for a chunky texture.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
