GF/DF Seafood Chowder

[magickalmom]

Used what I had on hand in the house and made some seafood chowder the other day. It ended up being extremely tasty and served our family of 6 for two meals! I tried my best to keep track of what and how much went into the pot but keep in mind that I keep tweaking as I cook until it tastes right... so feel free to make adjustments of your own.

GF/DF Seafood Chowder

Ingredients:

• 5-6 russet potatoes cut into bite sized cubes (microwave on high until they are mostly cooked -- still firm-- or use baked potatoes left over from a previous meal)
• 2 - 10oz cans of clams (strained and reserve fluid)
• 1 - 8oz can of oysters (strained and reserve fluid)
• 1 - 8 oz can of crab chunks (strained and reserve fluid)
• 4TB on-dairy butter + 5 TB GF flour (I used Paula's artisan flour)  FOR RUE!
• 1 TB bacon fat (if you have some --otherwise 1 additional TB of butter + a dash or two of GF liquid smoke)
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 container of Kitchen Basic's seafood stock (+all reserve of liquids from canned seafood)
• 6 oz full fat coconut milk (non flavored)
• 6 oz of non-flavored almond milk (you can choose to just use a full 12oz of coconut milk or some other non-dairy substitute--- rice milk is too thin and will change the texture of the finished product, soy milk will change the color but not the texture)
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt + 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tsp "21 Seasoning Salute" from Trader Joe's
• 1 C white wine (GF)

Directions:

• In a big stock pot, saute veggies in bacon fat or 1 TB butter until onion is translucent.
• Add in seafood stock, reserved juices from the seafood, and wine.
• Bring pot to a boil and then add spices and potatoes and reduce heat to simmer. Cover pot.
• Make your GF Rue: In a separate sautee pan melt remaining 4 TB of butter, whisk in flour, and cook on low, continuously stirring until it turns a light caramel color (don't attempt to make a "dark rue" gluten free flour won't do that and will taste burnt if you try)
• I hope you have a Vitamix because this part really makes a difference... When potatoes have finished cooking use a large ladle and pull out 2-3 scoops of what's in the pot, put into your vitamix blender on variable, then kick it up to high, slowly pour in your "dairy" and pot the top back on until it's steamy. Once it's steamy, pour in your rue and give it another 30 seconds to blend. Turn off vitamix.
• Now slowly mix in the contents of the vitamix into your pot that should still be simmering, add seafood, stir and taste... you may want to add more spices depending on your personal preference. If you did just cover and simmer for a few minutes longer before serving.
• ENJOY!  My family liked it with crumbled bacon on top! lol

IF YOU ARE IN THE TACOMA, WA OR OLYMPIA, WA AREAS.... make sure you pick up some crackers from Gluten Free Joe's!!! GF Joes has closed unfortunately... they were not making enough money anymore since GF is almost no longer a niche-market.