Name: New England Clam Chowder
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1.5 kg fresh clams (scrubbed); 150 g thick-cut bacon (diced); 30 g butter; 1 onion (diced); 2 celery stalks (diced); 2 tbsp plain flour; 500 ml clam cooking liquid or bottled clam juice; 600 g waxy potatoes (cubed); 2 sprigs thyme; 1 bay leaf; 250 ml whole milk; 250 ml double cream; Salt and black pepper; Oyster crackers (to serve)

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Creamy New England clam chowder with fresh clams, smoky bacon, potatoes and thyme.

About this American recipe

New England clam chowder is a cream-based soup from the north-eastern United States. Fresh clams give the best flavour, but good canned clams work well.

Ingredients you will need

The main ingredients are fresh clams, thick-cut bacon, butter, onion, celery stalks, plain flour. Exact quantities are in the recipe card below.

How long it takes

Allow 55 min in total: 20 min of preparation, 35 min of cooking. The recipe serves 6.

New England Clam Chowder

Creamy New England clam chowder with fresh clams, smoky bacon, potatoes and thyme.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Total Time 55

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 430

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

1.5 kg fresh clams scrubbed
150 g thick-cut bacon diced
30 g butter
1 onion diced
2 celery stalks diced
2 tbsp plain flour
500 ml clam cooking liquid or bottled clam juice
600 g waxy potatoes cubed
2 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
250 ml whole milk
250 ml double cream
Salt and black pepper
Oyster crackers to serve

Method

Steam the clams in 500 ml water, covered, for 6–8 minutes until open. Strain and keep the liquid. Chop the meat.
Fry the bacon in a large pot until crisp.
Add the butter, onion and celery and cook for 6 minutes.
Stir in the flour for 1 minute, then add the clam liquid, potatoes, thyme and bay. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the milk, cream and clams and warm gently without boiling.
Season and serve with oyster crackers.

Notes

Strain the clam liquid through a coffee filter to remove any grit.