Recommendation for Canned or Jarred Clams

[Shel_B]

I've only used Snow's once and was not impressed by them. I've recently decided to try a Linguine and Clam Sauce "weeknight" recipe, i.e., simple and quick. Are there any prepared clams that you'd recommend? Quality takes precedence over price. There's no need to suggest fresh clams, as I've got sources for them. I'm just looking for a good-quality pantry item. Thanks!

[Tropicalsenior]

31 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

good-quality pantry item.

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

[TdeV]

@Shel_B, I found these razor clams at Zingerman's.

 

I've got a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish!

[liuzhou]

9 hours ago, Tropicalsenior said:

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

 

I completely agree but when I can get fresh , live clams in about 12 different types from tiny to geoduck in almost every market or supermarket, why pass on them. Another but: very little canned food of any type here (other than pet food).  

 

But I realise  I'm lucky in that  respect.

 

 

[Shel_B]

9 hours ago, Tropicalsenior said:

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

Within five minutes of my home are two of the area's finest and most respected fish markets. I can get fresh clams of many varieties almost any time, but sometimes I want something readily available in my pantry. I don't always want a more time-consuming and complicated preparation method and am willing to settle for lesser quality for greater convenience. However, the differences between fresh and canned clams may be different enough to think of them as different ingredients, which is how I imagine them to be.

[JeanneCake]

When our local fishmonger closed his shop, he started a home delivery service.  One of the items he has (not always) is frozen clams meant for chowder or other recipes.  Maybe your local fish shop has something similar?

[Shel_B]

4 hours ago, TdeV said:

@Shel_B, I found these razor clams at Zingerman's.

 

I've got a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish!

Thanks.  I've not been a fan of Zingermans for many years.

 

If you have a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish, I'd imagine that there are a fair number of folks who use and enjoy the product for what it is.

[Shel_B]

2 minutes ago, JeanneCake said:

When our local fishmonger closed his shop, he started a home delivery service.  One of the items he has (not always) is frozen clams meant for chowder or other recipes.  Maybe your local fish shop has something similar?

Hadn't thought about frozen. That might be worth checking into. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Tropicalsenior]

30 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

Hadn't thought about frozen.

I was thinking of suggesting this because when we lived in Washington state we used to go clam digging all the time and I always put the extras in the freezer. I froze them in baggies with water in them and they always tasted perfectly fresh when they were thawed.

[Laurentius]

12 hours ago, Shel_B said:

sometimes I want something readily available in my pantry. I don't always want a more time-consuming and complicated preparation method and am willing to settle for lesser quality for greater convenience.

 

This is sensible.  I feel the same way, and my back yard IS a clam bed.  Insisting on live, fresh clams for everything is like insisting on grinding one's hamburger from the best possible fresh beef cuts.

 

I find the 51 oz cans of ground clams Costco carries to be very good.  It helps that they're portioned just perfectly (both meat and nectar) for my go-to chowder recipe.  I forget the brand.

[TdeV]

@Laurentius, may we have that recipe? 🙂

[Laurentius]

23 hours ago, TdeV said:

@Laurentius, may we have that recipe? 🙂

Sure.  I'll dig it out.

[Laurentius]

6 hours ago, Laurentius said:

Sure.  I'll dig it out.

 

Here you go:

 

6 ounces bacon (approximately 8 slices), diced

6 ounces unsalted butter

2 medium yellow onions, diced

6 stalks celery, sliced

¼ tsp minced garlic

White, black or cayenne pepper to taste

2 tsp marjoram

2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

2 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1 tsp thyme

4 bay leaves

2/3 cup flour

½ pound new potatoes, peeled and diced

8 cups heavy cream

1 cup Half-n-half

2 ½ cups clam juice

3 cups chopped clams

4 ounces clam base

½ tsp dill

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Salt to taste

 

1)  In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, render bacon over medium-low heat until transparent.

2)  Add butter, onions, celery, garlic, pepper, marjoram, basil, Italian seasoning, thyme and bay leaves to the bacon and fat.  Mix well and cook over medium-low heat until onions and celery are tender. 

3)  Add flour and cook mix over low heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.

4)  Meanwhile, steam the potatoes and let cool.  Set aside.

5)  Add to the mix the cream, Half-n-half, clam juice and clam base.  Raise heat, and heat to just below boiling.

6)  Add to the mix the diced potatoes and chopped clams.  Bring to a boil slowly, being careful to stir to avoid scorching.  Boil gently for 2-3 minutes, and remove from the heat.

7)  Stir in the dill and parsley and serve.  Salt to taste.  Oyster crackers and a float of freshly ground black pepper are optional.

 

Makes 5-6 quarts of chowder

 

Note 1:  As written above, one large 51-ounce can of clams with their juice (Costco) contains the perfect amount of both for a double batch.  Also, since both the bacon and the clam base are quite salty already, I prefer to use unsalted butter and rarely add additional salt.

 

Note 2:  For aesthetic reasons, you may want to wait to add the basil until just before serving.  It tastes better as written, but the leaves may turn black/dark.

 

BTW, the brand of chopped clams at Costco is "Sea Watch"

[Shel_B]

Edited 8 hours ago by Shel_B (log)

[TdeV]

Thanks, @Laurentius. Not sure what I'd do with 6 quarts chowder though. A neighbourhood party perhaps. 😁

[Shelby]

I like Bumble Bee whole baby canned clams.