New England Clam Chowder Recipe

Presented by SaleWhale

Try this classic clam chowder recipe for your next meal!

Ingredients

4 strips	smoked bacon, chopped (optional)
4 stalks	celery, chopped
1	medium white onion, chopped
4	potatoes, peeled, cubed and soaked in just enough water to cover
1.5 tbsp	flour
2 cans	canned clams, liquid set aside and reserved
~15	medium cherrystone clams, washed and soaked
1 cup	skim milk (or whole)
1 cup	half and half (or heavy cream)
~1 tsp thyme, dried
	sea salt and pepper

In a pan on high heat, place the cherrystone clams in about a cup of water. Cover and bring to a boil.
Remove clams immediately after opening. Separate clams from their shells and set aside. Reserve half of the cooking liquid, removing any grit or pieces of shell.
In a large stockpot, fry bacon and render the fat. When bacon is crisp, remove and set aside. Cool and crumble.
To the hot bacon fat, add onions and saute until translucent.
Add celery and cook for an additional two minutes.
Season with thyme, a little salt and pepper.
Add flour to create a roux.
When celery and onion is coated with the flour, add the reserved clam juice, potatoes and water in which potatoes were soaked. Season with more pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. The liquid will be thick.
When potatoes are halfway cooked, slowly pour in the milk and the half and half, whisking the hot liquid continuously. Season with more salt and pepper if necessary.
Lower the heat to a medium-high and simmer.
When soup is thickened (lightly coats the back of a spoon), add the clams and simmer for an additional 2 minutes.
Allow to sit for about 5 minutes, then serve with a little chopped parsley and the crumbled bacon from earlier.

Available sales for ingredients