Irish Clam Chowder Recipes

RHODE ISLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Rinse the clams several times under cold running water. Transfer to a large pot and add 3 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook until the clams open, about 8 minutes. Remove the clams with a slotted spoon and transfer to a deep bowl as they open; cover with plastic wrap so they don't dry out. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Wipe out the pot, then pour the strained broth back into the pot.
• Meanwhile, put the bacon in a large skillet and cover with about 2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook 10 minutes; drain, then return the bacon to the skillet. Add 1 tablespoon butter and cook until the bacon starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to the pot with the broth. Wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the onion and celery to the skillet and cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, about 6 minutes.
• Add the onion and celery mixture to the broth along with the potatoes. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper.
• While the potatoes are cooking, remove the clams from their shells and roughly chop.
• Add the clams to the soup and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with chopped parsley.
• Per serving: Calories: 434; Total Fat: 23 grams; Saturated Fat: 9 grams; Protein: 21 grams; Total carbohydrates: 37 grams; Sugar: 2 grams; Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 65 milligrams; Sodium: 858 milligrams

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.

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Rinse the clams in several changes of cold water and drain well. Tip the clams into a large pan with 500ml of water. Cover, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 mins until the clams have just opened. Tip the contents of the pan into a colander over a bowl to catch the clam stock. When cool enough to handle, remove the clams from their shells - reserving a handful of empty shells for presentation if you want. Strain the clam stock into a jug, leaving any grit in the bottom of the bowl. You should have around 800ml stock.
• Heat the butter in the same pan and sizzle the bacon for 3-4 mins until it starts to brown. Stir in the onion, thyme and bay and cook everything gently for 10 mins until the onion is soft and golden. Scatter over the flour and stir in to make a sandy paste, cook for 2 mins more, then gradually stir in the clam stock then the milk and the cream.
• Throw in the potatoes, bring everything to a simmer and leave to bubble away gently for 10 mins or until the potatoes are cooked. Use a fork to crush a few of the potato chunks against the side of the pan to help thicken - you still want lots of defined chunks though. Stir through the clam meat and the few clam shells, if you've gone down that route, and simmer for a minute to reheat. Season with plenty of black pepper and a little salt, if needed, then stir through the parsley just before ladling into bowls or hollowed-out crusty rolls.

RHODE ISLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Bring the shucked clams, clam juice, and chicken stock to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion and celery; cook and stir until the vegetables are tender. Stir the onion mixture and potatoes into the clams. Season with dill, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Simmer 15 minutes longer. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

RHODE ISLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Put all the ingredients except the potatoes in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
• 2. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

CHEESY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, combine the first 12 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add cream and cheese; heat through until cheese is melted. Stir in bacon just before serving.

ATLANTIC CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, sauté side and back bacon until almost crisp.
• Add celery and onion and cook just until limp.
• Add stock and potato.
• Cover and simmer about 10 minutes.
• Add clams and simmer about 10 minutes.
• Add milk and heat to just below the boiling point.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

OLD-FASHIONED CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Pick over clams, discarding any with cracked shells or that feel heavy, an indication they are full of mud. Rinse them under cold running water to get rid of surface grit. If clams are very gritty, set them in a bowl with brine solution and keep cool, or refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
• Drain clams, and place in a large, heavy soup kettle; add about 1/2 inch water to kettle, and set over medium heat. Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until all clams have opened. As they open, remove them from kettle and set aside. (Any clams that fail to open after 10 to 15 minutes should be discarded.) Strain clam liquor through several layers of cheesecloth into a 2-cup measuring cup, and set aside. Remove clams from shells, and set aside.
• Rinse out soup kettle and return to stove top. Add salt pork, pancetta or bacon dice and 1 tablespoon butter, and cook slowly over medium-low heat until dice brown a little on edges. Use a slotted spoon to remove dice from fat. Set aside.
• Add onions to fat and cook, stirring frequently, until soft but not brown. Stir in potatoes, and continue cooking another 5 minutes, until potatoes begin to soften. Add enough water to clam liquor in measuring cup to make 2 cups; pour this over potatoes. Add black pepper and bay leaves.
• Simmer gently, partially covered, until potatoes are tender. Add whole milk and simmer again. Stir in clams and evaporated milk or cream, stirring gently so as not to break open clam bellies. Taste, and add salt if necessary. Let come just to a simmer, and remove from heat. (Do not let chowder come to a full boil.)
• Chowder can be set in a cool place for several hours to develop flavors. Reheat to a simmer (do not let boil), then stir in chives or parsley and remaining butter just before serving. Pass common crackers at the table if you wish.

CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Wash clams well, scrubbing if necessary to remove external grit. Place them in a pot with half-cup water, and turn heat to high. Steam, shaking pot occasionally, until most of the clams are open, 7 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove clams to a broad bowl; reserve cooking liquid.
• When clams are cool enough to handle, shuck them over the bowl, catching every drop of their liquid; discard shells. If any clams remain closed, use a thin-bladed knife to pry them open (it will be easy).
• Chop clams. Strain all liquid through a sieve lined with a paper towel or a couple of layers of cheesecloth. Measure liquid, and add enough water to make 3 1/2 cups.
• Combine liquid with onion and potato in saucepan; cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, keep covered, and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the clams, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.