NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

CREAMY NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER
Creamy, hearty, and WAY better than canned, this New England style clam chowder is soon to be your family's new favorite soup recipe!


INGREDIENTS
STEAMING THE CLAMS:
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup chicken broth
6 cloves garlic crushed
CLAM CHOWDER:
6 slices thick cut bacon, diced
1 cup onions, finely diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
1 cup leeks, finely sliced
3 cups red potatoes, diced
3 cups chicken broth or stock
3/4 cup clam juice (bottled is fine)
1 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 Tbsp dried thyme
4 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
3/4 cup fresh clams, steamed, shelled and chopped
2/3 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (divided)
1 quart half and half (4 cups)
INSTRUCTIONS
STEAM THE CLAMS:


Scrub your clams to get rid of any grit, set aside.


Bring your water, chicken broth and garlic to a boil. Add your clams, cover, and steam until they open up (around 6-7 minutes).


If one or two clams don't open up, toss those, they're not good. Drain your clams, scoop out the meat and chop.
CLAM CHOWDER:


Over MED-LOW heat, add a small drizzle of olive oil to the bottom of a large dutch oven. Add bacon pieces and cook until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon (or tongs) to a paper towel lined plate, reserving drippings in pot.


Increase heat to MED and add onion, celery and leeks and sauté about 3-4 minutes, until soft. Add 2 Tbsp flour and stir to coat vegetables. Cook 1 minute.


Add potatoes, chicken broth, clam juice, salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, and tabasco sauce. Stir well, then bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover, simmering about 15 minutes or so, until potatoes are fork tender.


In a mixing bowl, combine 2/3 cup flour with half and half, whisking well to remove lumps. Add to chowder, along with the chopped clams, and stir well to combine.


Increase heat to MED and cook, stirring often, about 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and thickened to desired consistency.


Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Serve and enjoy!
RECIPE NOTES

TO USE CANNED CLAMS:

Replace fresh clams with 2-3 small cans of minced clams, omitting the steam clams section of the ingredients and instructions.