Ingredients

Before you start

I most often use mussels rather than clams, because they are more widely available and less expensive than clams.

This recipe may seem like quite a few steps but they are neither complex nor long and some are done in parallel. The only drawback: the number of pots and pans to be cleaned…, but the result is worth the trouble.

Method

Cooking the potatoes:

1. Prepare the potatoes, with the skin on, boil or steam about 12 min, without overcooking, since they will continue to cook in another step. Peel the potatoes then cut them into ½ cm thick slices.

2. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat then cook the onion, taking care not to burn it. Sauté 4 min then set aside.

Cooking the mussels:

3. Carefully rinse and brush the mussels to remove any sand. Drain. Discard any mussels that stay open, even after being tapped.
4. Put the mussels in a pot with about 1 cm of water. Cook over medium heat, covered, 7-8 min. All the mussels will be open. Take them out and set them aside. Filter the liquid through a sieve to remove any bits of shell and sand. Set the liquid aside.
5. Put the pot back on the stove, add the butter and melt over low heat. Add the flour and cook 2-3 min stirring constantly so that the roux remains white. Slowly pour in the milk, with continuous stirring, then pour in the filtered mussel liquid. Cook and stir until a creamy consistency is obtained. Add the onion and cooked potatoes, then cook an additional 5 min.

Final step:

6. Take advantage of these last 5 min to discard most of the mussel shells, keeping some for decoration. Also remove and discard any unopened mussels. Put all the mussels back into the pot, then cook 4 min until heated through. Season with pepper and salt, if necessary. Serve hot.

Remarks

This soup may vary in thickness after cooking, mostly depending on the amount of mussel liquid. If too thick, you may dilute it by adding some warm water. If too liquid, you may make and mix in some additional roux. (For example: in a small saucepan melt 1 tablespoon butter over low heat; add 2 tablespoons flour, mix well and cook 3 min; add 1/4 cup of the chowder, with constant stirring; then transfer this thickened amount back into the chowder)