Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Creamy Boston clam chowder is a fantastic dish that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. While there are many variations to choose from, your family will love this recipe from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.
This is a hearty clam chowder that is flavored with bacon, leeks, onions, and potatoes to kick up the starch quotient. That is the perfect background for the freshly shucked littleneck clams. If you haven’t made a clam chowder at home before, don’t worry. It’s easy to execute and the recipe will pack some star power into your recipe book.
Emeril Lagasse (William Morrow & Co.)
Ingredients
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1/2 pound bacon, diced
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1 cup chopped leeks (about 1 pound)
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1 cup chopped yellow onions
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1/2 cup chopped celery
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1 carrot, peeled and diced
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1 dash salt
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1 dash freshly ground black pepper
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3 bay leaves
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1 pound white potatoes, peeled and medium-diced
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4 cups clam juice
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2 cups heavy cream
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2 pounds littleneck clams, shucked and chopped
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2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a heavy stockpot over medium-high heat, render the bacon until crispy (about 8 minutes).
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Stir in the leeks, onions, celery, and carrots. Sauté for about 2 minutes or until the vegetables begin to wilt.
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Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Add the bay leaves and thyme.
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Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes.
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Add the potatoes. Stir in the clam juice. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
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Simmer the mixture until the potatoes are fork tender (about 12 minutes). Add the heavy cream and bring up to a simmer.
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Add the clams and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
Tip
If you have any leftover chowder, store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Be sure to eat it within a day. With any cooked clam dish, don’t freeze it because the clams will get very tough.
Fresh clams really do make the best clam chowder. If you have not worked with them before they can seem intimidating. It’s not a difficult process, though, especially if you know a few tricks to preparing fresh clams.
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Scrub each clamshell with a brush to remove any sand and dirt.
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Force the clams to purge any sand they might have inside by covering them with salt water for a few hours.
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To make shucking the clams a little easier, freeze them for about 15 minutes. Then, let them rest at room temperature for a few minutes before trying to open them.
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The clam juice (or liquor, as it's often called) can be saved while you're shucking. Simply shuck over a bowl to capture the liquor and use it in the chowder.
Another option is to look for clams that are already shucked at the seafood counter. It's likely that you'll pay a little more for the convenience, but it might be worth it for a quick meal on a busy weeknight.
Source: «Emeril’s TV Dinners» by Emeril Lagasse (William Morrow & Co.), reprinted with permission.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 to 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 609 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 34g | 44% |
| Saturated Fat 17g | 87% |
| Cholesterol 175mg | 58% |
| Sodium 2158mg | 94% |
| Total Carbohydrate 31g | 11% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 9% |
| Total Sugars 5g | |
| Protein 44g | |
| Vitamin C 37mg | 184% |
| Calcium 193mg | 15% |
| Iron 5mg | 29% |
| Potassium 1520mg | 32% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
