Caribbean Clam Chowder with Corn

I go to this wonderful local sandwich shop and the lunch that I always order is their Fried Green Tomato Sandwich.  With your sandwich you get your choice of a side and my absolute favorite is their Caribbean Clam Chowder.  The problem is, while they always have the fried green tomato sandwich on the menu, the soup and side options change.  Though all their soup and side offerings are wonderful and delicious, just knowing that I’m going there makes me crave the chowder so when it’s not offered I’m disappointed.  Sometimes I really crave the chowder so the last time I was there I brought my portion home so that I could recreate it and have it any time I wanted.

Caribbean Clam Chowder with Corn

6 medium potatoes, peeled and quarter-inch dice 
12 oz. sliced bacon
3 TBS butter
6 jalapenos, seeds removed and finely minced
2 medium onions, finely minced
6 cloves of garlic, finely minced
3 - 12 oz. bags frozen sweet corn, thawed
3 - 8 oz. bottles clam juice
6 - 10 oz. cans whole baby clams
1 scotch bonnet pepper, stem and seeds removed but kept whole
3 - 14 oz. cans lite coconut milk
1/3 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt or to taste
1 tsp fresh ground pepper or to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnish

In a large stock pot add enough water to boil your potatoes.  When the water reaches boiling, add your diced potatoes and boil until just tender.  Drain and set aside.  In the now empty stock pot, fry up the bacon until it is crispy.  Remove the bacon from the pot and dice it finely and set aside.  Leave the bacon fat in the pot and add the butter, jalapenos, onion and garlic and saute until all the vegetables are soft but do not allow them to brown or caramelize.  In a blender or food processor add one bottle of the clam juice and two bags of corn and process until quite smooth.  Once all the vegetables are soft add the processed clam juice & corn mixture, the two remaining bottles of clam juice, the juice from the cans of whole clams, the scotch bonnet pepper and the coconut milk.  Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.  Add the diced bacon, the remaining bag of corn, all the clams, the roasted red peppers, cayenne, salt & pepper and allow to return to a simmer for 3 minutes.  Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and discard.  Adjust cayenne, salt & pepper to taste.

Enjoy!!