Description
Creamy New England clam chowder brings coastal comfort to kitchen tables with its rich, velvety texture. Hearty potatoes, tender clams, and smoky bacon blend into a soul-warming soup perfect for chilly evenings when warmth calls to you.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 strips bacon, diced
- 2 (6.5 ounces / 184 grams) cans chopped clams, drained
Vegetables and Base:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups clam juice
- 2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Oyster crackers or crusty bread
Instructions
- Render the bacon in a spacious pot, converting it into crispy morsels over medium heat until golden and crackling. Extract the bacon pieces with a perforated utensil, preserving the rich, flavorful drippings within the cooking vessel.
- Melt butter into the residual bacon fat, then introduce the finely chopped aromatics – onions, celery, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables soften and release their fragrant essence, approximately 5 minutes.
- Dust the softened vegetables with flour, creating a roux by stirring thoroughly. Toast the mixture for 1-2 minutes, eliminating any raw flour undertones and developing a nutty complexity.
- Gradually incorporate clam juice and heavy cream, whisking diligently to ensure a smooth, lump-free consistency. Introduce diced potatoes and thyme, then gently coax the liquid to a delicate simmer.
- Reduce heat, cover the pot, and allow the chowder to gently bubble for 15-20 minutes. Periodically stir to prevent bottom-clinging and promote even cooking of the potatoes.
- Fold in the chopped clams, warming them tenderly without boiling. Season with salt and black pepper, calibrating the flavors to your preference.
- Serve the chowder in individual bowls, adorning with the reserved crispy bacon bits, a sprinkle of fresh parsley, and optional oyster crackers for textural contrast.
Notes
- Bacon provides rich, smoky flavor and can be swapped with pancetta or turkey bacon for different taste profiles.
- Control sodium by using low-sodium clam juice and reducing added salt, perfect for heart-healthy diets.
- Gluten-free option works by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend when creating the roux.
- For dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond cream to maintain creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg