WHITE CLAM CHOWDER

TATER HEAD'S WHITE CLAM CHOWDER
2 3/4 ounces onion, chopped, 1/2 cup
6 pieces bacon, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
3 tablespoons minced garlic, from a jar (not fresh)
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped, 2 ounces
1/2 small cauliflower, chopped, 12 ounces
2 cups chicken broth
8 ounce bottle clam juice
Liquid from clams
4 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 10-ounce cans clams, reserving liquid

In a large soup kettle, cook the onion and bacon until browned; keep drippings in pot. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, basil, paprika and xanthan gum. Add the celery and carrots to the pot then sprinkle the spice mixture over them; stir in well. Add all remaining ingredients except the butter, cream, parsley and clams. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on the low heat about 25 minutes until the vegetables are very tender. Stir in the butter, cream and parsley; heat through. Add the clams and cook just until heated.

Makes 10 cups or about 10 servings
Can be frozen

Per Serving: 382 Calories; 35g Fat; 11g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 6g Net Carbs
Per Batch: 3818 Calories; 346g Fat; 113g Protein; 80g Carbohydrate; 20g Dietary Fiber; 60g Net Carbs

This is a very nice, thick chowder. I simplified Tater Head's recipe a little, but didn't change the ingredients much. It's easier to add xanthan gum to dry ingredients so I added it along with the spices instead of having to gradually whisk it in at the end. I added a 1/2 teaspoon more salt and the parsley. I also cut back on the amount of butter by half. I'm sure that a whole stick of butter would taste wonderful, but I decided to save a few fat calories. I think I might also leave out the basil next time. The flavor is a little strong and masks the flavor of the clams too much. One other thing I might do differently next time is to saut?the onions in butter and omit the bacon or just use some bacon drippings and leave out the cooked bacon.

UPDATE: I just thawed and reheated some of the chowder that I'd frozen and the consistency suffers a bit. It looks a little curdled and isn't as creamy and thick as it was before freezing.

1. Prev:WHITE BEAN SOUP
-