Sweet Tomatoes Clam Chowder Recipes

APRIL BLOOMFIELD'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Steam the clams: In a large stockpot, combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, bay leaves and wine. Bring to a simmer and add the clams. Cook covered, until the clams have opened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the clams to cool until they can be handled.
• Remove clams from shells, discarding shells and reserving liquid in the pot. Remove the tough foot from each clam, chop finely and place in a bowl. Chop the remaining portion of each clam into medium dice, add to bowl and set aside. Strain cooking liquid through a fine strainer into a separate bowl or pitcher and set aside. You should have as much as 2 quarts.
• Make the chowder: In a medium pot, combine cream, milk and potatoes. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender but still keep their shape, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large soup pot over medium heat, heat olive oil until almost smoking. Add bacon and sauté until it colors slightly, about 2 minutes. Add carrot, celery stalks and onion, stirring until just tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in clams, then add wine and chiles or pepper flakes. Allow wine to reduce until almost evaporated, then add 4 cups (or as desired) of the reserved clam broth.
• Remove about half the potato mixture from its pot and purée in a food processor or blender. Add purée to the soup pot with vegetables and clams, along with remaining potato mixture. Bring back to a simmer and add corn. Cook until corn is tender but still has snap, about 5 minutes. Add half the celery leaves and half the parsley leaves, and mix well. Season to taste with salt and a squeeze of lemon.
• To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish each with a bit of the remaining parsley and celery leaves, and if desired, a drizzle of olive oil.

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
• Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

TOMATO CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. In the drippings, saute the onion and celery until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Drain clams, reserving liquid; set clams aside. Drain potatoes and return to the pan. Add the onion mixture, bacon and reserved clam liquid. Stir in the water, tomato sauce, tomatoes, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Add clams and parsley; simmer 5 minutes longer.

MANHATTAN-STYLE CLAM CHOWDER WITH CHILIES

Steps:

• Fry bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until just beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Add onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf and thyme and cook until onion is tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add stewed tomatoes with their juices, clam juice, tomato sauce, potato and chilies. Reduce heat and simmer until potato is very tender, about 40 minutes. Add clams with juices and heat through. Season chowder to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and serve.

CLASSIC MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Wash the clams well under cold running water in colander. Place clams in a large pot, and add enough water to cover clams by 2 inches. Cover the pan and place over high heat.
• 2. When the water comes to a boil, give the pan a good shake. Turn the heat to low, and cook clams another 30 seconds or so. Remove from the heat, and take out all the clams that have opened, using a slotted spoon. If any clams remain closed, put back on the heat, with the lid on the pan, and cook another 1-2 minutes. Remove remaining clams, reserve, discard any clams that have not opened.
• 3. Pour the clam juice through a fine strainer and set aside. You will need 6 cups of broth. If you have more than enough clam broth, reduce it to 6 cups. If you have too little clam brother, add some bottled clam juice or water to make 6 cups total.
• 4. Put the bacon into a large, heavy saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the bacon begins to brown. Pour off excess fat, leaving behind the bacon and about 3 tablespoons of fat in the pan.
• 5. Add the onion, celery, and carrot to the pan and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, and cook mixture for 10 minutes more. Add tomatoes and reserved clam juice to the pan. Bring chowder to a boil over high heat.
• 6. While chowder is coming to a boil, remove clams from their shells and chop coarsely. Add to chowder and reduce heat to low. Add thyme leaves. Cook over low heat for another 5 minutes; check to make sure potatoes are soft and chowder is well seasoned. Remove and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Serve in warm bowls.

TOMATO CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels. drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. , In the drippings, saute onion until tender. Add the corn, tomatoes and potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with bacon.