This New England clam chowder recipe will take you on a cold winters day to straight to heaven! Loaded with clams and potatoes, this thick creamy soup is perfect for any occasion! Serve it up alongside some fresh bread so that your guests can dip their pieces into the delicious goodness too!
As an east coast Canadian, Im EXTREMELY fond of anything and everything related to seafood. I have a lot of favorite foods and dishes (obviously! haha) but as a Maritimer now living in the big city of Toronto sometimes I get homesick for some good ol fashioned east coast comfort food.
One of my favorite comfort foods has got to be a rich and delicious creamy homemade clam chowder. Its just the perfect thing to warm you up during the cold January weather.
I like my clam chowder thick and hearty with lots of chunks of potatoes. A little bit of bacon sprinkled on top is pretty good too!
This recipe makes for a very flavorful clam chowder that Im certain will make any seafood lover dance a little jig.
The fresh thyme, bay leaves, garlic, onions and celery really do a fantastic job of making this taste something spectacular! I know youll love this recipe!
If youve never made clam chowder yourself before, its a lot easier than youd think. Also it really doesnt take that long to cook when compared to other homemade soup and stew recipes.
One thing to remember when preparing seafood is that it takes much less time to cook than beef, chicken or other meats. The clams are added to the soup almost at the end of cooking so they dont become overdone.
If youre feeling adventurous you might even want to try adding some other kinds of seafood to the recipe to make it even more amazing! This would taste great with little bits of lobster or crab as well.
Next time youre feeling cold and need the warmth of a little east coast cooking, try this recipe!
If you enjoy this recipe, please also check out this delicious Minnesota wild rice soup from Cheap Recipe Blog!
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
You really only have three choices when it comes to dairy for your chowder. You can use whole milk (homo milk), you can use heavy cream, or you can use a combination of the two. Any milk with a fat content lower than 3.25% is likely to split when heat, salt, acid, or even the seafood is added.
How to make Clam Chowder – Overview How to make the best clam chowder recipe from scratch?
You can find the full recipe details, including ingredient amounts and the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but first, heres a quick overview of how to make this absolutely delicious and easy clam chowder recipe!
Making clam chowder at home from scratch is a lot simpler than you would think!
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon strips, drain and set aside. In the same pot/Dutch oven, sautée some onions, chopped celery and garlic in butter until softened. Add thyme, bay leaves, cayenne and all purpose flour. Using a whisk, combine the flour so there are no lumps.
Next, add some diced potatoes and clam juice, water, and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add the cream and combine.
Next, remove a bit of the soup and blend until smooth using a blender, then add it back to the soup. You can also do this by sticking a hand blender into the chowder and pulsing a couple times or you can even mash some of the potatoes with a fork in the pot. This is an important step in creating the deliciously creamy texture of the chowder.
Next, add some whole baby clams (fresh or canned), some Worchestershire sauce and season to taste with salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Thats it! Serve hot with some crusty bread for dipping.
Clam chowder is one of those comforting, hearty soups that are perfect for a winter meal. And while it might seem like a lot of work to make clam chowder from scratch, its actually quite easy! This homemade clam chowder recipe is made with canned clams, but you can also use fresh clams if you prefer. Either way, this clam chowder is sure to hit the spot on a cold winter day.
Seasonings: For this recipe I used thyme as an aromatic seasoning, but you can also add a bay leaf to the pot and itll give your chowder and extra dimension of flavor. You could also use some old bay seasoning. Chopped fresh parsley is also a nice addition sprinkled on top just before serving!
Instead of bacon: You could also use some salt pork!
Other Veggies: This recipe also tastes wonderful with frozen corn nibblets and even finely diced bell peppers!
Make it a seafood/fish chowder: In addition to the clams you add to the chowder, you can also add crab meat, lobster and other types of fish – I recommend white types of fish, such as haddock. When adding chunks of fish, add it at the end of cooking as to avoid overcooking!
What is clam chowder made of?
This clam New England style clam chowder is made from a combination of bacon, butter, onions, celery, garlic, all purpose flour, fresh thyme, cayenne, bay leaves, water, white potatoes, heavy cream, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and canned whole baby clams.
Depression Era Corn Chowder Recipe – No Milk or Cream!
FAQ
What happens if I use milk instead of cream?
Can you use milk instead of cream in soups?
Does chowder have to have cream?
Can you substitute cream for clam chowder?
Clam chowder is an exceptionally heartening meal, whether served in a delectably creamy base or a clear tomato broth. If you’re more inclined towards the thick, creamy variety, substituting cream for evaporated milk may be the intensely rich hack you’ve been waiting to try.
What is a dairy free substitute for sour cream?
Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream’s flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you’d like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.
Can you substitute evaporated milk for clam chowder?
Thus, a steamy bowl of clam chowder is created, whose flavor whole-heartedly sings with a warming fishy essence. It’s rich, it’s divine, it’s utterly moreish. Clam chowder with evaporated milk is the ultimate duo. For the best results, substitute evaporated milk for cream in a 1-to-1 ratio.
What can I use instead of cod for chowder?
If you like, garnish each bowl with a small pat of butter, some more nutmeg and chives, and fresh grated black pepper. Cod is the best to use for fish chowder. But if you can’t find it, or it’s too expensive, here are some alternatives. Good fish to use – other whitefish, such as snapper, tilapia, monkfish, barramundi or other sea bass, or salmon.