Rhode Island Clear Clam Chowder
Clear broth is Rhode Island style clam chowder, my favorite. If I have a choice of the Manhattan or the New England or the Rhode Island, it's no contest! You have to be a clam lover to appreciate the unadorned broth. Truly a delight!
Servings:
Calories: 369
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 2 pounds clams hard shell, (quahogs) or soft shell (steamers) (I like to mix both)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ pound bacon diced
- 1 cup Spanish onions chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- ¼ cup white wine optional
- 2 cups red potatoes cubed
- ¼ cup parsley fresh, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅕ teaspoon black pepper
- 1/16 teaspoon crushed red pepper a pinch
Instructions
- Rinse the clams very well in cold water.
- Bring the water in a large pot to a boil. Add the rinsed clams and cook until the clam shells open up, usually this takes about 10 minutes.
- Strain the clam broth through a very fine sieve or cheesecloth and set aside.
- Remove the clams from the shells. Give the clam meat a very quick rinse under water to remove any possible sand and coarsely chop them. Set aside.
- Rinse the large pot and sauté the butter and bacon over low heat for about 5 minutes, until the bacon has browned. Remove the bacon and set it aside.
- Add the onions, celery, and white wine, (if you are using it) to the pan and sauté for a few minutes, just to soften.
- Add the clam broth, potatoes, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
- Add the reserved chopped clams and bacon. Remove the bay leaf.
- It is better to give the chowder some time (at least a half hour) to let the flavors meld before serving. Then just reheat it a bit. I think it is even more delicious the next day…and the next!
EXTRA TIP:
SUGGESTION: Serve with oyster crackers!
CLAMS: There are 2 kinds, soft shell and hard shell, but so many varieties all over the world! QUAHOG is the Native American name for the large hard shell clam. New Englanders have about 5 or 6 different names for all the sizes of hard and soft clams! Just to confuse matters further, the younger, smallest (barely legal size) Quahogs are called Littlenecks! But STEAMERS are the soft shell clams with the necks! And only New Englanders can easily tell the differences!
Nutrition
Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 897mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 639IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg