I love soups and I LOVE clam chowder. I grew up with my mom’s clam chowder recipe, which I still love. But I also grew up going to Mo’s at the Oregon coast.
Their clam chowder is totally different from my mom’s and yet also terrific. It has this completely other flavor that my mom’s doesn’t have. SO for years I’ve been trying to figure it out.
After scrounging the internet I found a few different recipes that CLAIMED they were THE Mo’s recipe. SO I figured I’d take what I already know about soups and give it a try! It turned out great.
Still not QUITE right, but oh so close! Next time I think I’ll try using half and half in place of some or all of the milk. I think that might push it over the edge in the way I’m hoping for!
Mo’s Clam Chowder
copycat version of my favorite seaside diner clam chowder
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Servings: 30 servings
Calories: 250kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Bacon diced
- 1/4 lb smoked ham diced
- 6 cups chopped onions
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 can minced clams drained, keep the juice
- 2 jars clam juice
- 12 cups diced potatoes
- Salt and pepper
- 5 cups water
- 6 cups whole milk
- Butter and paprika
Instructions
- Saute bacon and ham together, add onions and saute until limp. Set this mixture aside, but do not drain. In 5 cups of water, add potatoes, salt, pepper and all the clam juice. Cook until potatoes are tender. Set aside and do not drain.
- To the bacon, ham and onion mixture add the flour and make a roux. Mix the roux into the potato mixture, bring to a boil. Stir down when the boiling point is reached and add the milk and clams. Garnish with a dollop of butter and add a dash of paprika.
Nutrition
Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg
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Cheryl B.
I have found that sometimes that ‘edge’ is topped by using evaporated canned milk. I’ve never made clam chowder, so I can not say for sure with it.
Ashlee
I hadn’t heard that. I’ll have to try it next time! I love learning new “tricks”
Ami Allison
It finally feels like fall out here! This sounds like it would be WONDERFUL for dinner tonight! 🙂
Ashlee
I love soups, but my kids don’t usually eat too much. I get it, soup is kind of hard. I didn’t love them until I was older. But this one was a HUGE hit with my oldest! I just love Fall and soup is the perfect fall food!
Jessica Hills
We just went out there in August and it was SO much fun. We went to the Mo’s in Newport. I thought it was delicious, but I also have to stir the pot (no pun intended) and say that I think Ivar’s is better (this coming from a Seattle-grown girl) I still want to try this recipe though!! Thanks for sharing it!
Ashlee
I’ll have to try it out! I’m always open to more clam chowder versions! Like I said I love my mom’s still, but a change is nice! I haven’t been to the Newport Mo’s but growing up in Portland I hit up the original location at LEAST once a year! I’m not sure if the soup is really as good as I remember or just good BECAUSE of those memories!
Lisa
No, it’s really that good!
Kami
I’ve been to Mo’s! It’s a good one. I’ll have to try this recipe. I love the Oregon coast!
Ashlee
I love the Oregon Coast too! I wish I lived a bit closer! I do have family on the coast still so I’m going to HAVE to find an excuse to make it over there next summer. I miss it, growing up in Portland we used to go to the coast all the time. I’m enjoying UT, but I miss the ocean!
Steph
I have found that with chowder the bacon makes it. So yums.
Ashlee
YES! This Ham/bacon/onion saute was SO delish! It totally made it and using that base for a roux? Brilliant! It was terrific! I think I’ll go have another bowl RIGHT now!
Whatever DeeDee Wants
Yum! Bacon in clam chowder is so good!
Ashlee
Bacon makes EVERYTHING better, huh? I’m still secretly planning on trying bacon ice cream someday, but I just haven’t been quite brave enough yet! Someday…
Line
Thanks for sharing the recipe!However, here in France, we have no canned clams 🙁 Any idea how to do the recipe with fresh/frozen clams?
And would you agree to share your mother’s recipe?
Have a lovely day!
Ashlee
I haven’t bothered trying it with fresh clams but I’m SURE it would make a HUGE difference. I found this http://www.ehow.com/how_4926569_prepare-clams-chowder.html and it seems pretty clear! I’ll make sure to add my mom’s chowder to the list of to share recipes for the blog! Since it’s fall and soup time I’m sure I’ll get to it soon! But this recipe is definitely the more authentic. My mom’s is not even close.
ann@ http://housefinally.blogspot.com/2010/
I am sooo making this tonight–it looks delicious. Love all the other recipes too. Thanks
Ashlee
I hope you like it as much as we do!
Jenn
Yummy!! I love clam chowder!!! New follower here…can’t wait to check out your other recipes!
Ashlee
I’m glad to have you! I hope you enjoy my recipes!! Let me know if any links don’t work. I recently switched over to wordpress and haven’t finished updating all my older posts links!
Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures
I am saving your recipe so I can try to make it for my husband who loves clam chowder.
Ashlee
this one turned out great! I hope your husband likes it!
Amanda - VintageDutchGirl
I have some clams we harvested from our local beach (I live up in the Pacific NW) this summer that are already cleaned and minced and in the freezer. NOW I have a recipe! Thank you!
Ashlee
I SO miss the Pacific NW! I grew up in Portland with visits to the Beach and Seattle often! I miss it so much! Let me know how you like the recipe!
Joseph Obdami
“I SO miss the Pacific NW! I grew up in Portland with visits to the Beach and Seattle often! I miss it so much!”
Me too. Terribly so.
jessica
That looks really good can’t wait to try it.
Thank you
Ashlee
I hope you like it! We really enjoyed it! We finished it way to fast, and I think I’m going to have to make it again soon!
amy @ chicy creations
I have GOT to try this. I love clam chowder! All time fav soup!
Ashlee
My husband LOVED it! To me it was super, but just a HAIR off… I’ll keep working on perfecting it and updating the recipe if I come up with that “thing” I think it’s missing!
Joseph Obdami
What it’s missing is parsley, green onions. but what you’re referring too is that “tang”. For that you need either evaporated milk or Half & Half or whole cream or even sour cream. Also, I prefer making this in a crock pot and let all those flavors just meld together in an eight hour slow cook. Delish. Skip the clams and this potato soup. Same same.