My sister, seeking to improve her energy levels and sugar cravings, recently adopted a grain free, dairy free diet. Way to go, sister! We’ve discussed easy, low-prep meal ideas to fit her lifestyle at school. One of these meals is paleo clam chowder, which she makes at least twice a month. She adds a punch of flavor with cumin and hot pepper, which you can certainly add if you desire.
About the ingredients
Leeks – The mild sweetness of leeks pairs beautifully with the briny clam flavor. Feel free to substitute a chopped onion or chopped shallots. You can also add chopped carrot and celery (my sister’s recipe includes those) but I didn’t have them on hand when I photographed this recipe.
Coconut milk – I recommend this brand, which doesn’t contain guar gum or other filler ingredients. Use full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest result, but you could substitute canned light coconut milk. Don’t substitute cartons of coconut milk, or cartons of another non-dairy milk. Those are too watery.
Cauliflower – I use cauliflower instead of the traditional potatoes in this recipe. It is an uncanny resemblance in flavor and texture, once the soup is cooked.
Arrowroot flour – Arrowroot starch and arrowroot flour are the same thing. Whereas traditional clam chowder uses a flour-thickened roux, this recipe is thickened with gluten-free arrowroot.
If you cannot have starch, an alternative would be to make the recipe as instructed, but don’t add the clams when you add the cauliflower. Cover and cook until the cauliflower is tender, then use an immersion blender or standing blender to pulse the soup. This will make it thicker but also smoother, unlike the texture of traditional clam chowder. Once blended, add the canned clams with their juice and heat until warmed.
- 1 medium to large leek, thinly sliced (substitute 1 cup chopped shallot or onion)
- Optional: 1 chopped celery stalk and 1 chopped carrot
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbs. ghee or coconut oil
- 1 10 oz. can clams, not drained
- 1 cup clam juice (available in health food stores and large grocery stores)
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- ½ head cauliflower, cut into very small florets
- 1½ tsp. arrowroot flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- In a soup pot, heat the coconut oil or ghee. Saute the leek until translucent and tender. Feel free to add chopped celery and carrot when you cook the leek, as well. Add the garlic once the veggies have softened and cook for just a minute.
- Add the clams with the liquid from the can, as well as the clam juice and coconut milk. Add the cauliflower florets. It's important to cut them into small pieces so they cook relatively quickly. Put a lid on the soup and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk the arrowroot with 1 Tbs. of clam juice or water. Whisk this into the hot soup and cook for a minute or two, until the soup thickens. Don't whisk dry arrowroot into the soup, as it will clump.
- Season with salt and pepper.
I just found your website and I love it. I was wondering if you have the carb count and protein counts of your recipes? I am curious about your Paleo clam chowder. That is #1 on my list to make! Thank you for all your hard work!
Made the clam chowder for lunch. Very good! Quick and easy
Hi Lauren!! Another fellow NTP from NTA posted a video called “My experience transitioning from Paleo to 80/10/10 Raw Vegan” by perfectly plant based. Could you please watch this and tell me your thoughts?? I am very confused on what to think because everything now seems to be backed up by science or studies. Thank you so much!!
Just wondering what you think of eating dairy in general. You seem to be recommending a dairy-free diet here but in some other posts, you have recommended milk, yogurt, cheese, etc
I think that it varies from individual to individual. For me, I needed to be dairy free for a couple of years and then I could re-introduce some cheese. I recommend high-quality dairy from grassfed cows, rather than processed pasteurized dairy from confined cows.
Hi Lauren!
I Love your blog. My wife and I are always checking out recipes and info on your website. Just wanted to say thank you for all of this. You’ve created a pretty amazing compendium of recipes for those following AIP or Paleo diets.
I recently began writing a blog as well, about my journey to healing through diet and spirituality with my beloved. I hope that something I write can be of value to you in some small way, as a token of my appreciation. May you continue to be blessed with vibrant health!
Aaron
(cleanhusband.com)
Thanks for the kind note, Aaron! I read your story and it is a powerful testimony to nutrition. I agree that spirituality is an essential component of holistic healing, and that’s one reason I want to discuss more of my healing through energy medicine this year. Blessings and health!
This sounds amazing! I love clam chowder, and it’s one thing I miss ordering in restaurants. Can’t wait to try this!
Hi Lauren, I can’t wait to try this as it looks amazing. Can you explain about arrowroot flour and arrowroot starch being the same thing? I was under the impression that arrowroot is like the starch cooked out and arrowroot flour is the entire tuber, just like potato flour is different from potato starch. Have I been misled?? Thank you.
Potato flour and potato starch are different, yes, but arrowroot flour/starch are the same. Tapioca flour and tapioca starch (made from the yuca/cassava tuber) are the same but cassava flour (made from the entire tuber) is different.
Hi Lauren, This recipe sounds awesome – can’t wait to try it! From one paleo inspired blogger to another, I really admire your work.
Quick question, were you able to find canned clams without preservatives? Any brand you’d recommend?
I just saw in your photo you used Crown Prince clams – happy to see no strange ingredients in there. Sorry I missed that earlier! Thanks again!
I just made this and it is amazing! It is the perfect recipe, tastes so good! Thank you!
Thank you very much for this recipe. I made it and it was really good. It even passed muster with my dad, a clam chowder connoisseur. I don’t think I made any changes to it. This is one that I would like to make again.
Could this all be thrown into a crock pot? Many Thanks!