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Ivars Clam Chowder Recipe

Ingredients

How to make it

  • Open the canned clams and drain the juice into a medium saucepan. Set the reserved clams aside.
  • To the juice add the onions, celery, potatoes, and enough water to just cover. Simmer covered over medium heat until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large sauce melt the butter over medium heat, then stir in the flour and cook until it becomes a roux and is golden.
  • Gradually whisk the half-and-half into the roux. Cook, whisking, until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. (If you'd like your chowder texture thinner, add 1/2 to 3/4 cup water, chicken broth, or clam broth.)
  • Add the cooked vegetables together with their liquid and the clams, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir well, and adjust seasonings to taste if necessary.
  • To learn more about Ivar's, go to: http://www.ivars.net/ Keep clam! :)

Reviews & Comments 13

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  • ScoutLeader 10 years ago
    The restaurant(s) are still around, it's Ivar himself who is departed.
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  • cynthiaceline 11 years ago
    ivar's has NOT sadly departed.
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  • slinngr 12 years ago
    As a born and raised Washingtonian, I know and LOVE my Ivar's chowder! Us Puget Sound residents can be a bit big on the foody-snob end, so I thought I'd pass on some info to help add to this recipe so that it can be replicated as authentically as possible! I did a search on the actual Seattle PI article - and it's from an employee who doesn't know the FULL recipe, but tries to give as much info, as closely to the original, as possible. I then went to the Ivar's page and looked up their ingredients list on this chowder, and Lo' and BEHOLD! This recipe is super close, but has a few sneaky ingredients missing! Ivar's lists: clam base, POTATO flour (as opposed to normal flour!), unsalted butter, onion powder, sugar, garlic powder, clams, potatoes, bacon, HONEY (?! Shocked me too!), dehydrated onions, dehydrated celery, salt, pepper and LEMON JUICE from concentrate! I hope the new info helps you all to adjust your recipe, if it doesn't seem 100% authentic Ivar's to you....and thank you for the base recipe! I am making it tonight!~
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  • toni5181 14 years ago
    I am planning on making this hope it is good do you have a recipe for the Ivar's tartar sauce this wood be way cool
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    " It was excellent "
    dandelion ate it and said...
    This was really rich and creamy I did add an extra can of clams and covered the vegetables with clam broth instead of water.
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  • stayathomedad 15 years ago
    Was at Ivars last week. I wanted to reproduce the chowder (which I believe is called "white" not "clam" but that is a distinction without a difference). Anyway, I made this chowder and was not particularly impressed.

    Ivars chowder was thicker, there were chunks not finely chopped potatoes, had considerably more clams and something was definitely missing. My feeling, don't laugh, was a mild garlic taste. There was also a complexity that was certainly not in this recipe.

    First I added a bay leaf to the vegetables while cooking. Then, I roasted a clove of garlic, smashed it into a paste and added it, and added about 3 teaspoons of chicken better than boullion. It was certainly closer albeit not completely the same.

    Still, a good recipe nonetheless.
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  • jetucker41 15 years ago
    I chose to omit the onions and celery because neither my husband or I like that in our soup. I think by doing this, it made the soup less flavorful. If I make it again, I will use some onion powder and maybe some other seasonings so it isn't so bland. Also, the recipe doesn't say anything about how long to let it cook at the end so the clams are done. I let it boil for a few minutes but the clams were a little chewy and I couldn't tell if they were cooked enough. I didn't feel comfortable feeding it to my 2 year old son or myself since I'm pregnant. =/ Other than that it's a great recipe that I will work on a bit to make even better! =)
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    " It was excellent "
    mjcmcook ate it and said...
    ~Hello~
    My Grandson David is going to LOVE this
    recipe~ He is VERY PARTICULAR about the
    Clam Chowder he eats~and he is only 17 yrs old!
    "5"FORK!!!!!
    ~*~mjcmcook~*~
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  • trufmom 16 years ago
    As a Seattle-ite - Ivar's is awesome and so is this recipe - tried others and nothing is as good as this - did add a little red pepper for spice!
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    " It was excellent "
    deedeec ate it and said...
    I love Ivars clam chowder. I get it when ever I go home to Seattle! Thrilled to have the recipe now :)
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    " It was excellent "
    bettiecooks ate it and said...
    Ivars chowder is really good!
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  • julesong 17 years ago
    I'm going to write up a version of this for the Big Damn Chefs Rise Again cookbook - I know I can Browncoatify it somehow... ;)
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  • julesong 17 years ago
    I love that it's an easy recipe, too!
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  • yummers 17 years ago
    saving this one!!! I love clam chowder :)
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julesong Seattle, WA

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