Gluten Free Clam Chowder |Cooking With Amanda

As the weather has been getting colder I've been more and more in the mood for hot soups. They just warm you up! I've been making green chile white bean chicken chili and gluten free cheddar cheese soup with ham for dinner frequently. They really hit the spot when the weather turns from "crisp" to just downright cold.

This hearty gluten free clam chowder recipe is nice and filling and will warm you up all the way down to your toes. It is easy to prepare and has just a few simple ingredients.

I haven't always been a seafood lovin' gal, but my husband loves seafood and I'm slowly learning to enjoy it too. I just love the briny taste that the clams add to this chowder!

I used canned clams because they are way easier to prepare than fresh clams, and they are also a lot less expensive. Don't toss the juice or liquid that they are in! You want to make sure to add it to the soup. It will add some great seafood flavor.

I started my chowder out by crisping up some bacon that I later used to top my gluten free clam chowder, and then I sautéed the onion, garlic and potatoes in some of the leftover bacon grease. If you don't do pork, you can skip the bacon grease and just use a tablespoon or two of olive oil.

I really had a hard time not eating all of the bacon before the clam chowder was ready. If you think you might have the same challenge that I did, fry up an extra slice or two. You'll thank me later.

I used my favorite gum free rice flour blend to thicken my gluten-free clam chowder. You can use a similar blend, or just use sweet rice flour or cornstarch. Just be sure that if you do use a flour blend it's only ingredients are "rice flour, cornstarch, tapioca starch, or potato starch." If your blend has any gums or something like pea protein in might not give you the results you are looking for.

I also used half and half to add that ultra-creamy mouthfeel. You could use some milk and cream if you don't have half and half on hand. You can even make this gluten free clam chowder dairy free too by using canned unsweetened coconut milk!

If you want to, top of your steaming bowl of gluten free clam chowder with a few of my favorite gluten free white cheddar crackers. So good!

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Gluten Free Clam Chowder Recipe

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Ingredients

6 slices bacon
1 cup chopped onion, diced small, about 1/2 a large onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups diced russet potatoes, chopped small (about 3 medium potatoes)
3 tablespoons gum-free rice flour blend, sweet rice flour, or cornstarch
1 10 ounce can whole clams, reserve juice
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups half & half
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Directions

In a large soup pot or French oven, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside and then crumble once cooled. Keep 2-3 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan and remove the excess.
Sauté the onions, garlic, and dried thyme until the onions are softened and starting to turn translucent, 2-3 minutes.
Add the potatoes and sauté until slightly softened, another 5 or so minutes.
Sprinkle the rice flour over the vegetables and cook for several more minutes, or until the flour is lightly browned.
Add the clams, reserved clam juice, and the chicken or vegetable broth.
Simmer until the potatoes are very tender, another 5 minutes. Season to taste with lots of salt and pepper.
Add the half & half, and parsley and serve, topping with the crumbled bacon.