Description
New England Clam Chowder celebrates maritime culinary traditions with rich, creamy goodness. Coastal ingredients blend perfectly, delivering comfort that connects you to seaside kitchens.
Ingredients
- 2 (6.5 oz / 184 g) cans chopped clams, drained
- 4 strips bacon, diced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups clam juice
- 2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Oyster crackers or crusty bread
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a spacious pot over medium heat until golden and crackling. Remove bacon pieces, retaining the flavorful drippings.
- Aromatic Base: Melt butter into bacon fat, then sauté onions, celery, and garlic until vegetables soften and release their fragrant essence, approximately 5 minutes.
- Roux Development: Dust vegetables with flour, stirring to create a smooth base. Toast the mixture briefly to eliminate raw flour taste and develop a nutty complexity.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk clam juice and heavy cream into the roux, ensuring a silky texture. Add diced potatoes and thyme, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Potato Cooking: Reduce heat, cover pot, and allow chowder to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even potato cooking.
- Final Touches: Gently fold in chopped clams, warming them without boiling. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with reserved crispy bacon bits and fresh parsley.
- Serving: Ladle chowder into bowls, accompanied by optional oyster crackers for added texture and crunch.
Notes
Control Bacon Crispness: Render bacon slowly at medium heat to achieve perfect golden-brown crunchiness without burning, ensuring maximum flavor extraction.
Manage Roux Technique: Toast flour mixture precisely 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste and develop rich, nutty undertones without scorching the base.
Prevent Cream Separation: Add cream gradually while whisking continuously to maintain smooth, silky texture and prevent potential curdling or lumpy consistency.
Customize Dietary Variations: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, use turkey bacon for lighter option, or add extra vegetables for increased nutritional density.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg