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Fast & Easy Dinner: Manhattan Clam Chowder

partysugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:13 -0800

Living in San Francisco it's virtually impossible to find a Manhattan-style red clam chowder. To enjoy this chunky and filling soup, I have to make it myself, thus I've decided to experiment with this recipe.

With its pieces of clams, tomatoes, and veggies, this red chowder is healthier then the cream-based variation. Serve with a side of mixed greens and a hunk of crusty bread, and you've got a deliciously comforting weeknight meal. Check out the recipe and read more.

Manhattan Clam Chowder
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1 pint shucked clams or two 6-1/2-ounce cans minced clams
1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small)
1/4 cup chopped carrot (1 small)
2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil
1 8-ounce bottle clam juice or 1 cup chicken broth
2 cups cubed red potato
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons purchased cooked bacon pieces or cooked crumbled bacon*

Directions

Chop fresh clams, if using, reserving juice; set clams aside. Strain clam juice to remove bits of shell. (Or, drain canned clams, reserving juice.) If necessary, add enough water to reserved clam juice to equal 1-1/2 cups. Set juice aside.
In a large saucepan cook celery, onion, and carrot in hot oil until tender.
Stir in the reserved 1-1/2 cups clam juice and the 8 ounces clam juice. Stir in potatoes, thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in undrained tomatoes, clams, and bacon.
Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more or until heated through.

Serves 4.

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Transport Your Taste Buds to the Shore With Clam Chowder

YumSugar — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:00:49 -0700

One recent Summer afternoon at Sam's Chowder House, I enjoyed some of the best New England clam chowder I'd ever had. Ever since, then, I've had lingering thoughts of making an inspired version at home, which was further encouraged when I came across a copy of The Summer Shack Cookbook, in which I earmarked a promising recipe for fresh-from-scratch, authentic New England clam chowder.

The recipe calls for quahogs, the unofficial chowder clam of New England, but since those aren't widely available on the West Coast, I substituted them with Manila clams. You can use any kind that works for you. For a taste of the ocean, read more.

Creamy Cape Cod Clam Chowder
From The Summer Shack Cookbook by Jasper White

Ingredients

10 pounds small quahogs or large cherrystone clams
2 cups water
4 ounces meaty salt pork, rind removed and cut into small (1/3-inch) dice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions (about 12 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 stalks celery (4 ounces), cut into 1/3-inch dice
5 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and chopped (1 tablespoon)
1 large dried bay leaf
2 pounds Yukon Gold, Maine, PEI, or other all-purpose potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch dice
2 cups heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper
Kosher or sea salt if needed
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Directions

Scrub the clams and rinse well. Place them in a large pot, add the water, cover, and turn the heat to high. Once you see a little steam escape from the pot, let the clams cook for about 5 minutes. Remove the lid and quickly move the clams around in the pot so they will cook evenly, then cover and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the clams open.
Pour off the broth and reserve. After it has settled a bit, strain the broth, leaving the bottom 1/2 inch of broth (and sediment) in the container. You should have about 4 cups. Remove the clams from the shells, place in a bowl, and refrigerate until cold.
Dice the clams into small (1/3- to 1/2-inch) pieces. Cover and refrigerate.
Rinse and dry the pot and heat over low heat. Add the salt pork and cook until crispy and brown. Add the butter, onions, garlic, celery, thyme, and bay leaf and sauté, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 10 minutes, until the onions are softened but not browned.
Add the potatoes and 4 cups reserved clam broth. The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add more broth or water. Turn the heat to high, cover the pot, and boil vigorously for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are soft on the outside but still firm in the center. Smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot and stir them into the chowder to lightly thicken it.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cream and diced clams. Season with black pepper; you may not need salt (the clams usually add enough of their own). If you are serving the chowder within the hour, just let it sit and "cure." Otherwise, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate it; cover it after it has chilled.
When ready to serve, reheat the chowder slowly over medium heat; do not let it boil. Ladle into cups or bowls and sprinkle with the parsley.

Makes 3 quarts; serves 12 as an appetizer or 6 to 8 as a main course.

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Summer Afternoons Well Spent at Sam's Chowder House

YumSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:50:53 -0700

I've admitted a number of times that the Summer sun has brought on an intense craving for shore-style seafood. So when I was invited to enjoy a meal at Sam's Chowder House, I couldn't turn it down: nestled on a quiet corner of the California coast in Half Moon Bay, Sam's has long been one of my favorite seafood restaurants - not only for the view, but also for the fresh fish. Can't make it there just yet? Get a glimpse of the mouthwatering dishes and the jawdropping ocean views when you read on.

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 17-23, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:00:12 -0800

I wish there were a dozen of me so I could be at every single one of this week's events. Case in point: I'm going to have to choose between the Grilled Cheese Invitational and a clam chowder cook-off. Life is full of the most difficult decisions! Meanwhile, Orange County is gearing up for its restaurant week, and, on the opposite coast, Miami will soon be abuzz with its South Beach Wine and Food Festival.

Are you going to any of this week's events? If we've left anything off our list, feel free to chime in below!

Indio, CA: Riverside County Fair - Feb. 17-22
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 17-22
San Francisco, CA: Around the World in 80 Sips - Feb. 19
Miami, FL: South Beach Wine and Food Festival - Feb. 19-22
San Antonio, TX: San Antonio Wine Festival - Feb. 20-22
Chicago, IL: Chicago Restaurant Week - Feb. 20-27
San Francisco, CA: POP Party - Feb. 21
Santa Cruz, CA: Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-off and Festival - Feb. 21
San Francisco, CA: NorCal Grilled Cheese Invitational - Feb. 21
Orange County, CA: Orange County Restaurant Week - Feb. 22-28

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New England Clam Chowder Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:00:31 -0800

For respite from the harshest Winter days, turn to the simple yet satiating Northeastern staple known as clam chowder. Not only will this soup provide you with warmth in the most bone-chilling weather, but its shellfish base will remind you that balmy Summer days at the beach aren't but several months away. This balanced, nutritious, one-pot meal can be made with shortcuts like bottled clam juice; or, for an extra-special soup, make the seafood base from scratch. To make either version of this New England classic, read more.

Beginner New England Clam Chowder
From the Culinary Institute of America

Ingredients

1 1/4 pound canned clams, minced, juices reserved
2-3 cups bottled clam juice
2 bacon slices, minced
1 onion, diced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves, chopped
1 pound potatoes, peeled, diced
3 cups heavy cream or half and half
6 tablespoons dry sherry, or to taste
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Tabasco sauce, to taste
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Oyster or saltine crackers, as needed

Directions

Drain the clam juice from the minced clams and combine with enough bottled juice to equal 3 cups of liquid.
Cook the bacon slowly in a soup pot over medium heat until lightly crisp, about 8 minutes.
Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2-3 minutes.
Whisk in the clam juice, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should be the consistency of heavy cream. If it is too thick, add more clam juice to adjust the consistency. Add the bay leaf and fresh thyme.
Add the potatoes and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the clams and cream in saucepan and simmer together until the clams are cooked, about 5-8 minutes.
When the potatoes are tender, add the clams and cream to the soup base. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Stir in the sherry. Season to taste with salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce. Serve in bowls with the crackers on the side.

Makes 8 cups.

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Expert New England Clam Chowder
From Martha Stewart's Cooking School

Ingredients

5 dozen littleneck clams (quahogs), scrubbed
3 cups water
1 ounce salt pork, rinsed well and cut into lardons
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional)
1/2 large yellow onion, cut into small dice (1 cup)
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice (2 cups)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 sprig thyme
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Cook clams and make broth: Combine clams and water in a medium stockpot, and then cover and bring to a boil. Cook until clams have opened, 5 to 6 minutes (discard any that remain closed). Use a slotted spoon to remove clams. Strain the broth through a fine sieve lined with a coffee filter; you should have about 4 cups (if not, add a little water). When clams are cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the shells and coarsely chop. Discard shells.
Build the flavor base: Rinse the pot and dry completely. Cook the salt pork over medium heat until some of the fat has rendered and the remaining meat is light golden, about 3 minutes. (If there is not enough fat to coat the bottom of the pot, add the butter). Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes, stirring once or twice.
Add broth and finish soup: Return the strained clam broth to the pot, along with the potato, thyme, and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the potato is tender but not falling apart, 6 to 8 minutes (if desired, mash a few against the side of the pot to thicken the broth slightly). Stir in clams and cream and cook just until heated through, no more than a minute or so. (Do not boil, or cream will separate and clams will toughen.) Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Makes 6 cups.

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Do You Know Clam Chowder?

partysugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:18:32 -0800

Get excited, today is a fun, fabulous holiday that celebrates the delicious and hearty clam chowder. That's right happy clam chowder day! I couldn't let this day pass without putting together a quiz. Take it now and find out how much you know about clam chowder.

Take the quiz

Which Clam Chowder Reigns Supreme?

YumSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:27:31 -0800

New York may have beaten New England at the Super Bowl, but I want to know who would've won the chowder bowl? Would New York (aka Manhattan) clam chowder take home the prize or will New England clam chowder win it all? Vote for your team below!

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Soup's On: Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl

partysugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:43:18 -0800

One of San Francisco's most famed dishes is white clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. If you can't make it down to Fisherman's Wharf, you can savor this filling soup in the comfort of your own home. Don't be overwhelmed by cooking with clams; this soup is actually simple to make and comes together in less than an hour. The creamy soup is full of juicy clams and chunky potatoes. When served in a bread bowl it becomes a fun meal perfect for entertaining. To see the recipe, read more.

Clam Chowder
From Parade magazine

6 pounds cherrystone clams
3 medium-sized onions, each coarsely chopped but kept separate
1 rib of celery (with leaves), cut into 2-inch pieces
1 carrot, peeled and halved
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme plus
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 cups water
1/2 cup clam juice
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 small white new potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 cups heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Bread bowl (optional), for serving, see video below

Wash the clams well in cold water and put into a heavy soup pot. Add 1 chopped onion, the celery, carrot, 1 bay leaf, and the thyme sprigs.

Add water and clam juice. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the clams open, shaking the pot occasionally. Remove clams from their shells, pouring any remaining broth back into the pot.

Cover the clams and set aside. Strain the broth through a fine sieve and set aside.
Add the bacon to the pot and cook over low heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is slightly crisp, about 10 minutes.

Add the remaining chopped onions, the remaining bay leaf, chopped thyme, and butter. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring, to wilt the onions.

Add the potatoes and the strained broth. Simmer, partially covered, over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. Skim any foam that rises to the surface.

Meanwhile, coarsely chop the reserved clams. Add them to the pot along with the cream; simmer over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until the clams are just cooked through. Do not overcook or clams will be chewy.

Season generously with pepper and stir in the parsley. Serve in bread bowl, if desired.

Serves 6-8.

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Would You Rather Eat Red or White Clam Chowder?

partysugar — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:28:39 -0800

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New England Clam Chowder

YumSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:58:27 -0700

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