My Favorite New England Clam Chowder Recipes

CONTEST-WINNING NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes., Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the cooked bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
• Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

MY BEST NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cover salt pork with water and bring to boil over med-hi heat. Cook 5 minutes.
• With slotted spoon, transfer pork to dutch oven and cook over med-hi heat until crisp. Remove and discard pork and all but a little bit of the drippings.
• Add butter and when melted, add the onions and saute until golden.
• Stir in flour and cook over low heat 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the pepper and thyme. Add potatoes, 1/2 & 1/2 and chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. (Be careful and watch that it doesn't cook above a simmer or very long!).
• Add clams, clam juice, parsley; simmer another 5 min.; stirring occasionally.
• Add lemon juice and pepper sauce and salt to taste. Serve with oyster crackers.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Rinse the clams several times under cold running water. Transfer to a large pot and add 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then cover and cook until the clams open, about 6 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; reserve the broth. Transfer the clams to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap so they don't dry out.
• Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add the celery, onion and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in the reserved clam broth, 1 1/2 cups water and the potato. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potato is tender and the soup thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove the clams from their shells and roughly chop.
• Reduce the heat under the soup to medium low. Whisk in the half-and-half and warm through (do not boil). Remove from the heat. Stir in the chopped clams; season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the reserved bacon and chives.

MY FAVORITE NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Brown the bacon until crisp in a thick-bottomed soup pot.
• Pour off half the fat.
• Add the onions and celery with a splash of water and saute for a few minutes until soft.
• Add the white wine, cream, milk, and the juice/nectar.
• Add bay leaves, thyme, and the diced potatoes.
• Bring the mixture to a SLOW simmer.
• Continue simmering for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are softened and the chowder has thickened.
• Add the reserved clam meat, evaporated milk and parsley.
• Bring back to a slow simmer.
• Taste the chowder and add enough salt and pepper to season it.
• Serve with your favorite crusty rolls or biscuits!
• Hint- This chowder can be made a day or two in advance and reheated prior to serving. Its flavor actually benefits from resting in the refrigerator overnight.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Cook and stir bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 Tbsp. dripping from pan.
• Add yellow onions, celery and thyme to reserved bacon drippings; cook and stir 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add potatoes, water and 2 Tbsp. bacon; stir. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Simmer over medium-low heat 15 to 20 min. or just until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Microwave milk and cream cheese in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until milk is heated through. Whisk until cream cheese is completely melted and sauce is well blended. Add to potato mixture; stir.
• Stir in clams; cook 2 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently. (Do not let chowder come to boil.) Remove pan from heat.
• Top with green onions and remaining bacon.