Chef Johns Manhattan Clam Chowder Recipes

MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic, and crushed red pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute more. Tie the parsley sprigs, fresh thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot with the potatoes. Pour in the clam juice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and clams. Cover and bring to a low simmer. Season with pepper to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately.
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THE ULTIMATE MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Steam clams in a large pot and reserve the liquid that is left- it should measure about 3+ cups.
• Chop the clams.
• In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium/high heat until slightly crisp.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring until transparent.
• Add the pepper, carrot and celery and cook for about a minute.
• Add the clams, tomatoes, clam liquid, water, bay leaf, thyme ground pepper.
• Bring to a boil and add potatoes.
• Simmer 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Remove the bay leaf. Add chopped parsley.
• Add the cooked shrimp now if you plan to use them, but do not continue to cook or the shrimp will get tough.
• You should only warm the shrimp over for best results.
• Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy-bottomed pot over low heat, and add the bacon.
• Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium, and cook until the bacon is crisp and golden brown.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat, leaving the bacon in the pot.
• Add the olive oil and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, bay leaves, oregano, and crushed red pepper.
• Sauté, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and clam broth.
• The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add enough water to cover.
• Increase the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook the potatoes vigorously until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center, about 10 minutes.
• If the broth hasn't thickened lightly, smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more to release the starch.
• Add the tomatoes, and simmer 5 minutes more.
• Remove pot from the heat, stir in the diced clams and parsley, and season with black pepper.
• If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely.
• Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour, allowing the flavor to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil.
• Ladle into cups or bowls, making sure the clams, vegetables, and bacon are evenly divided.