Clam Chowder
Monday, December 15, 2008 by Pam
I have been making a lot of soups lately and was craving a seafood stew or chowder. I don't normally buy canned clams but I had them for a dip that I didn't end up making. I was thinking about making Manhattan clam chowder but my children, who absolutely adore creamy clam chowder, asked me to make the New England version instead. I agreed but knew that I would be making a healthier version. I adapted a recipe by Dave Lieberman. The soup was really good although it tasted more like a delicious potato soup with clams. Next time I will substitute a bit of clam juice for some of the chicken broth. Overall, it was a great soup for a cold rainy day. The clams were really tender and delicious and the crunchy, salty bacon was the perfect garnish. My daughter LOVED this chowder and ate two full bowls.
I am entering this recipe in the Seven Fishes Feast hosted by Joe from Italyville and Maryann from Finding La Dolce Vita.- 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3/4 sweet yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 (6.5 oz) cans chopped clams in juice
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups 2 % milk
- 4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
- Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2-3 tbsp corn starch
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat. Once the bacon is done, remove to paper towels for later use. Remove all but 2 teaspoons of bacon grease from Dutch oven. Add the onion and celery to the pan and sauté for 3-4 minutes then add the minced garlic and stir frequently for 45 seconds. Add the clam juice (reserving the clams for later), 3 cups of chicken stock, milk, russet potatoes, sea salt, black pepper and bay leaf. Cover over medium low heat for 60 minutes.When the potatoes are tender, bring the soup to a slight boil. Mix the corn starch with the 1/4 cup of chicken stock and mix thoroughly. Add the slurry to the soup and stir. Taste and re-season if desired; add the clams and stir, mixing thoroughly. Reduce heat and let the soup thicken for few minutes. Ladle into soup bowls and top with bacon crumbles and parsley. Enjoy.
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Mmmm... this looks delicious.
I love creamy clam soup and the bacon must make it really delicious.
Yeah, clam juice does make more sense :) But this chowdah looks delicious as it is-- and it's not even cold here! I can only imagine I'll be dreaming of this when I'm in actual winter!!
A warm soup in cold weather...So comforting! I am sure my son will love it! Yummy! ;P
This looks great! Sounds like a nice meal to fix for a weekday winter dinner! Loving the bacon on top!:)
Pam, great soup, I have made very similar, but replaced half the clams for scallops, the bright orange makes a wonderful contrast against the whiteness of the soup. I've never used bacon before, prefering spring onion leaves and croutons. But absolutely right about replacing half the juice with stock, or it tends to be a bit bland. This makes a radical cold-day-warmer-upper!
AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/
Oh, a bowl of that chowder sounds just perfect for this chillly weather!
What a gorgeous bowl of chowder! When it gets wet and cold there is nothing better to warm the body and soul.
Keep those tummy filler recipes coming! I'm saving them for winter!!
Looks very rich and delish!
Stace
My mouth is watering, this looks so cream and good. I like the bacon on top too.
I have 2 cans of clams just sitting in my pantry for quite a while. Now I know what to do with them. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Another favorite of mine. Still singing, food glorious food!!!!!
I could really use a cup of that about now!
I would love you to enter this in our 7 fishes feast! We need a chowder and this looks beautiful! Think about it!
Maryann xox
New England Clam Chowder! Well, you're 3000 miles from its origins, but yours looks divine! In my opinion, plenty of freshly ground black pepper is the key to this!
I love clam chowder, especially in a sourdough bowl. Your recipe looks perfect!
Yay, I'm so excited about this recipe!! I love clam chowder and never thought to make it myself. I don't think my children have tried it before but as soon as they see me eating it and MMMMM'ing, I know that they'll want some and they really like potato soup. I will do as you suggested and supplement some of the broth with the clam juice.
Thanks for sharing the recipe! I'll let you know how it goes.
~ingrid
mmmm clam chowder... hmm.. what is the manhattan version?
it's raining so hard in san diego right now, i'd love to whip up a pot for my family when they come home :)
I've never had clam chowder! This looks divine!
cold weather is perfect for soups and stews! i love the bacon crumbles on top :)
I'VE NEVER HAD CLAM CHOWDER, BUT IT LOOKS DELICIOUS!!!
This look absolutely nice and yummy!! Gloria
Mmmm well doesn't that just warm everyone up :) The crumbled bacon totally adds a nice New England-ness to it!
I usually cringe at the cream in the chowder, so I'm glad you sidestepped and I'm giving you a high five for the milk :)
I am cold and hungry right now, and this looks fantastic!
I don't like clam chowder, but your recipe and photos makes me want to give it a second chance! Just stopped by via sidewalk shoes....and I will be back! :) Wonderful blog.
I've never had clam chowder before but it looks and sounds delicious! perfect cold weather food.
It looks wonderful and I'd love to make it. Maybe I'm missing it, but at what point do the reserved clams get added?
Pam, You need to link to the event to be eligible to win the gift basket. Write me..(findingladolcevita@gmail.com)
Glad you are joining us!
Really beautiful presentation.
Yum.
That looks deslish and I love that it is lighter! We are loving the snow, HURRAY!
I love the bacon in clam chowder. You've made it just the way I like it. What could be better on a cold, snowy day?
That soup looks souperb, Pam.
It's definitely soup weather here at the mo. Today we had a high of
20F, and very icy roads after a hail storm. Brrrrr!
Michelle,
Thank you so much for letting me know... I fixed it in the recipe. You add the clams at the very end so they stay tender. Thanks again!
Oh it sounds lovely. My kids love it too and homemade is always the best!
I just about fell out of my chair when I saw this! I literally was just looking up both New England and Manhattan Clam chowder recipes ... and viola, here's your recipe. An added bonus, too, is that your recipe is gluten free!!! Yippee! I'll be making this tomorrow ... my kids don't have school tomorrow due to this lovely, breezy, chilly weather we're having! Great recipe!
that's one happy and hearty bowl o' soup. makes me wish i liked clams. :)
i love a good homecooked chowder on a cold day. Yours looks perfect! Totally heartwarming.
wahh.. this looking yummy. Thanks for your recipe. Let me make this soup.