Food Network: New England Clam Chowder

	Print 3x5 Recipe Cards
	Print this recipe out and cut along the dotted lines to add this 3x5 recipe card to your personal collection.

New England Clam Chowder
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, originally appearing in Emeril's Potluck, William Morrow Publishers, New York, 2004

Ingredients
10 pounds small quahogs or large cherrystone clams,
scrubbed and rinsed, open clams discarded
6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly
sliced crosswise (2 1/2 to 3 cups)
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons minced garlic
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into half-tablespoon pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives or green onions

Instructions
In a large stockpot bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
Add the clams, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover the pot and quickly stir the
clams with a wooden spoon. Cover and cook 5 to 10 minutes longer (this will depend
on the type and size of the clams), or until most of the clams are open.

Transfer the clams to a large bowl or baking dish and strain the broth twice
through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, being careful to strain out the sand. (You
should have about 8 cups of clam broth. If not, add enough water to bring the
volume up to 8 cups.) When the clams are cool enough to handle, remove them from
their shells and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Set the clams and broth aside.

Cook the bacon in a large heavy pot over medium heat until crisp and the fat is
rendered. Pour off all the bacon fat except 2 tablespoons. Add the 4 tablespoons
butter, leeks, onions, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add
the garlic, thyme, and bay leaves and cook until the vegetables are thoroughly
wilted, about 3 minutes, being careful not to brown. Add the potatoes and reserved
clam broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the broth
thickens slightly and the potatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes. (If you like
a thicker broth, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot with a

wooden spoon.). Remove from the heat, Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves, stir
in the clams and cream, and season with the pepper and the salt to taste.

Set the chowder aside for 1 hour, covered, to allow the flavors to marry. Place
the pot over low heat and slowly reheat, being careful not to let boil. Serve hot;
garnish each bowl with a pat of butter and some parsley and chives.