Gluten Free Thick Clam Chowder

Baby it's cold outside!

It has become quite chilly here in Seattle the last few days. I even woke up to frost on the car this morning. It's soup weather and to celebrate I have made my famous clam chowder that is gluten free for all my gf friends out there. I actually started making clam chowder this way a few years ago when we decided to cut back on the use of flour in our house, since our daughter is a bit gluten sensitive.

This post was actually meant for yesterday but as I was heating up my leftover clam chowder I decided to head outside to dump my coffee grounds into the compost pile. When I was at my back door and went to open it I realized the beagle had managed to knock over the back door stick perfectly into place, no I hadn't placed the stick in the frame, but it was just next to the door. I then lurked around the house looking for an unlocked window with hope. But non was found, all the windows where locked and I was stuck standing outside with my husbands size 14 shoes on holding a coffee basket and no jacket , not really dressed for the weather. So over to the neighbors house I headed to realize she wasn't home either, so I sat out front pondering what I was going to do and hoping no one drives by as I'm sure I looked a bit comical. Then she came home and saved my day! She let me call the hubby, who was cracking up at work over my conundrum. Then my sweet, blessing from god of a neighbor over heard me tell my husband my luscious clam chowders was in the microwave and I didn't have lunch.So she made me leftover beef stroganoff and a salad with all sorts of topping choices, even though she had already eaten lunch while she was out. It was so delish!

I thank God for her every day because she just is an awesome neighbor! Oh and I forgot she also started my culinary journey at her house with a cup of homemade real apple cider off the tree's in the back, to warm me up.

On to the recipe!

6 thick slices  of diced bacon. Place into a large stock pot and brown over medium high heat.

When it's nice and crisp, remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Poor off grease and add butter.

Add onion and caramelize.

Add celery, thyme and pepper.

Add in potatoes and clam juice from canned clams. Cover with a lid over medium low heat.I buy my clams at Costco.

When potatoes are fork tender remove from heat and use a potato masher and smash half of the potatoes to thicken the chowder.

Add clams and half and half. Stir well.

Place into bowls and top clam chowder with cooked bacon and scallions. Enjoy!

Gluten Free Thick Clam Chowder

Recipe by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Gluten Free Thick Clam Chowder so easy and delicious to make. Recipe includes step by step instructions with pictures.

Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT35M
Total time: PT45M
Yield: 5 Servings
Ingredients

• 51 ounces Canned Clams
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 whole Onion or Leek, Diced
• 6 whole Slices Thick Bacon, Diced
• 6 stalks Celery, Diced
• 1 teaspoon Thyme
• 1 teaspoon Pepper Or To Taste
• 3 pounds Russet Potatoes, Peeled And Diced
• 1 1/2 cups Cream Or Half And Half ( Milk works too but the soup will be more brown)
• 3/4 cup Scallions, Sliced And Reserved

Cooking Directions

1. Place bacon in a large stock pot over medium high heat. Brown bacon and remove to a paper towel. Set aside.
2. Drain fat out of the pot but leave the brown bits. Add butter and onion to the pot. Cook onion until caramelized.
3. Then add the celery, thyme and pepper.
4. Drain clam juice off of clams and add juice to pot. Reserve clams.
5. Add potatoes to the mixture and stir. Cover with a lid and cook over medium low heat or just barely simmering until potatoes are fork tender.
6. When potatoes are soft remove pot from heat and use a
7. potato masher and smash half of the potatoes until the mixture is thick.
8. Add clams, the cream or half and half to the pot and stir soup well.
9. Place clam chowder into bowls and top with crumbled bacon and scallions.