Sourdough Bread Bowls with Clam Chowder
I have always had a love affair with the ocean. Born and raised in Sacramento, I do cherish my trips to Monterey, California for a brief getaway. The drive from Sacramento takes a little over two hours. That is, if someone else drives. There are sights along the way, so if I get behind the wheel, I’m going to stop at many interesting places before getting to the destination.
I can’t always make it to Monterey, but I do have this favorite place on the wharf for a lunch of sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder. Although some people will associate this dish with the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, my favorite place to go for this simple meal is in Monterey.
At home, it is so easy to make this dish, so I prepare sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder several times during the winter months. Of course, I mostly prepare this dish to remember that charming, romantic restaurant on the Monterey Wharf and dining there with my husband. There is something so memorable about a candlelight lunch or dinner with a view of the water. Of course, I would not want to experience this alone.
I’ve gone to my local WINCO for the two ingredients needed for this dish: two sourdough bread loaves and two cans of clam chowder. There have been times when I was pressed for time, so shopping for these items were an in-and-out experience at the supermarket for a quick lunch or dinner. Bakeries have disappeared in my neighborhood, so finding sourdough bread shaped in little rounds at WINCO was a big find for me.
The last time I made these sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder, I was in line behind a person who had the same idea. She had her sourdough bread and a family size can of chowder. Those were the only items she bought. If you need something easy to fix on a cold day, this is it.
Sourdough Bread Bowls with Clam Chowder
Ingredients:
2 sourdough bread loaves (small and circular)
2 - 10 3/4 oz. cans of clam chowder (New England style)
Shredded cheese or cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions:
Take each bread bowl and remove chunks of sourdough bread until you have made a “bowl” in the bread. This bowl should be big enough to hold the chowder. Set the pieces of bread aside by keeping them next to each bread bowl.
Cook clam chowder, using instructions on the soup can.
Pour heated soup into bread bowl.
Sprinkle cheese or pepper on soup before serving.
Serves 2.
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A Sourdough Bread Bowl in Minutes! As in Pronto!
Sourdough Bread Bowls with Clam Chowder
Awwwwwww, thank you, k! You gave me a Hub idea last night when you caught me watching "The Accidental Tourist," Miss Size 0 and Hub, Hub, Hubbing at the same time. I do love Monterey and have been visiting since I was a kid. I hope anyone who visits California stops by Monterey and the surrounding areas for its history and tourist destinations. Besides, the Golden State sure could use the tourism revenue! Come one, come all!
I lived in Seaside for three months a couple years ago - right next to the U.S.C.M.B. campus, on old Fort Hood.
I spent a weekend in San Fran - and fell in love with those bowls of bread filled with clam chowder - I liked putting Louisiana Hot Sauce in the chowder!
Now that's an easy, convenient meal! I love the French Onion Soup bread bowl. Anything to do with soup and bread is yummy! Nice hub!
Oh, Wesman, you handsome Texan. I didn't even think about the Louisiana Hot Sauce on the chowder. It seems like the older I get, the more I can't take the hot stuff. But, Louisiana Hot Sauce is pretty mild compared to those gourmet hot sauces my husband gets for Christmas. Yes, it is so easy to fall in love with those bowls. But since I drive like an old lady/small town hick, I do avoid driving in The City. I don't do well in big cities. I'm too "country".
Sunshine, great idea for a quick meal! I love French Onion Soup, but have not tried it in a sourdough bread bowl. That would be more for me because my hubby doesn't like French Onion Soup. Yay! He can watch me eat two bowls. Yay!
How easy can that be.....thanks Arlene for sharing. Hope things are going well with you.
I love hearing from you, marellen, and I do cherish your recipe on Italian antipasto. It was my very first bookmarked recipe when I joined HubPages. Thank you! I hope you are doing well, too. I do have a salami roll-up recipe to publish in the next few minutes. I can do that recipe in my sleep if I'm not eating the salami and the mandarin oranges. I'm such a Bad Girl, but I do like that salami and mandarin oranges.
I've always meant to try one of these, but I've never had one. You've made it look easy. Easy I can do. I've never noticed canned clam chowder, but we must have some inBC. I probably haven't seen any because I haven't looked for any.
Ah the perfect pair. It's like the sock with the shoe, you have to have one for the other. When I went to San Fran for the first time, the first thing I did was go to the pier and this wonderful pair! Of course I did make this from scratch, it took three days, the damn starter dough. Though with your ingenious pics, one can enjoy in about 20 min. Loove it!
Flora, if the WINCO doesn't carry the rounds anymore, I will be forced to find a bakery that does. I don't know of any, and I don't know how to make them. The chowder should be easy to find.
jenbouka, I am afraid to make sourdough bread starter. I could see the mess in my hands, hair and kitchen. This is the way I play . . .
The first time I had clam chowder was in San Fran and I thought I had never tasted a better tasting soup. I kept going back for more. Now, the novelty has worn off but I still love a steaming bowl of clam chowder, preferably in a sour dough.
angin, I do enjoy the seaside surroundings. Too much bread for me. I can never finish the bread, but I will finish my soup.
I first had clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls at San Francisco Bay. What a nice memory! Thank you for a wonderful hub.
Thank you, vespa! I am following you and so looking forward to your Hubs. Clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls is something for the lazy cook, but it doesn't hurt to visit San Francisco or Monterey for the real deal. There is something heavenly about dining in a place that has a peaceful view of the water. Add some candlelight, and there's instant romance for you. I need to return with hubby!
We are planning another trip this year. We love the aquarium at Monterrey Bay!
I loved the seahorse exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and that will be until August 2012. Simply fascinating!
That's good to know, thanks for the tip. I would love to see it!
Excellent blog, keep up the good work, looking forward to visiting again.
Thank you for the compliment, C123z. I love Monterey, and go there every chance I get. And when I can't, there's always the bread bowls to remind me!
Beautiful pictures, funny story (with you behind the wheel it takes longer to arrive) and great idea for a quick easy dinner. Terrific combination.
Hi, Peg. Thank you for your comments. I tend to wander when I travel because I don't follow a schedule. When people ask me, "Did you go here and here while you were there?" Probably not. I don't like comparing notes and finding out I've been to the same old tired places. I'm in no rush to see the sights. When I get there, I get there. If I don't, I probably got lost! In the video, my husband is preparing his own bread bowl for the meal. Imagine that! I got it on tape, and he still can't cook!
ktrapp 7 months ago
Arlene, I love it - a two-ingredient meal. Your photos are beautiful; everything is so scenic. Voting up and definitely useful and beautiful.