Best 9 Authentic Boston Clam Chowder Recipes

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When it comes to New England comfort food, there's nothing quite like a bowl of authentic Boston clam chowder. This hearty and flavorful soup is made with fresh clams, potatoes, onion, celery, and cream, and typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and thyme. It's the perfect dish for a cold winter day, and it's also a popular choice for summer cookouts and potlucks. Whether you're a New Englander or just a fan of great seafood, you'll love this classic recipe. So grab a spoon and get ready to enjoy a taste of Boston!

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

MY FAVORITE BOSTON CLAM CHOWDER



My Favorite Boston Clam Chowder image

Provided by Mel

Categories     Soups Stews Chilis

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups diced peeled potatoes (I use Yukon Gold or Red potatoes)
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1 quart half-and-half
2 cans (6.5-ounces each) minced clams
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Drain the clams and reserve the liquid. In a large pot, place the vegetables and pour the claim juice over the top. Add enough water to barely cover the vegetables.
  • Simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are almost tender (don't overcook them in this step!), about 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour, making a roux with a wire whisk. Constantly stirring, add the half-and-half slowly. Cook and stir until smooth and thickened, without boiling.
  • When slightly thickened, add the roux to the vegetables and add the clams, salt, vinegar and pepper (to taste). Can keep warm (without boiling!) for a up to an hour or serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving, Calories 541 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Protein 10 g, Fat 42 g, SaturatedFat 26 g, Cholesterol 122 mg, Sodium 923 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 2 g

BOSTON CLAM CHOWDER



Boston Clam Chowder image

Provided by Craig Claiborne And Pierre Franey

Categories     dinner, soups and stews, appetizer

Time 40m

Yield Ten to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

24 chowder clams
1/8 pound lean salt pork (see note)
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup finely diced onions
2 tablespoons flour
4 cups clam broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice, about 3 cups
3 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
Salt to taste, if desired
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Remove and set aside the tough muscle of each clam. Reserve both the muscle and the softer body portions. Chop the muscles as finely as possible or puree them in a food processor, leaving the meat a bit coarse but fine. There should be about one and one-quarter cups.
  • Cut the salt pork into very fine dice. Put the dice into a kettle and cook, stirring often, until they are rendered of fat and are slightly crisp. Add half of the butter.
  • Add the onions and cook, stirring, until they are wilted. Sprinkle with flour and stir. Add the clam broth and water, stirring vigorously with a wire whisk. Add the chopped clam muscles and cubed potatoes. Bring to the boil and simmer 20 to 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
  • Finely chop the soft body portions of the clams or chop them using a food processor. Add this to the chowder and continue cooking five minutes. Stir in the milk, cream, salt and pepper. Bring to the simmer and swirl in the remaining one tablespoon of butter. Serve immediately. Serve, if desired, with common crackers or pilot crackers.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 251, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 712 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



New England Clam Chowder image

For a bowl of creamy comfort, try Dave Lieberman's New England Clam Chowder recipe from Food Network, perfect with homemade baguette croutons.

Provided by Dave Lieberman

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 celery stalks (reserve tender leaves) trimmed, quartered lengthwise, then sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2 (10-ounce) cans chopped clams in juice
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1 pound Idaho potatoes, cut into 1/2- inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Heat the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery and saute until softened, mixing often. Stir in the flour to distribute evenly. Add the stock, juice from 2 cans of chopped clams (reserve clams), cream, bay leaves, and potatoes and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring consistently (the mixture will thicken), then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook 20 minutes, stirring often, until the potatoes are nice and tender. Then add clams and season to taste with salt and pepper, cook until clams are just firm, another 2 minutes.;
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet and toss the bread cubes in the butter until browned and toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper.;

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



New England Clam Chowder image

Provided by Anne Burrell

Time 1h5m

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 dozen little neck or cherry stone clams, scrubbed
4 thick slices bacon, cut into lardons
1 large onions, cut into 1/4 inch dice
Kosher salt
11/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch dice
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 bundle of thyme
2 bay leaves
1 to 2 shakes hot sauce, optional (recommended: Tabasco)
Extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Place the clams and 1 cup of water in a large pot. Cover and place over a high heat and cook the clams for 6 to 7 minutes. Uncover and remove the open clams.Cover the pot again and continue cooking the clams that haven't opened yet. Cook the clams for another 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and discard any clams that have not opened. Strain the liquid from the pot through a mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter and reserve.
  • Coarsely chop the clams and reserve.
  • Drizzle a few drops of olive oil into the bottom of the clam pot and toss in the bacon. Bring the pan to a medium heat. When the bacon has let off a lot of fat and become brown and crispy, toss in the onions and season lightly with salt. Cook the onions until they are very soft and aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the onions and potato mixture and stir to combine. Gradually whisk in the reserved clam juice. When the clam juice has been whisked in and there are no lumps, whisk in the milk and heavy cream and toss in the bay leaves and thyme. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Toss in the reserved clams. Taste and re-season if needed and add hot sauce if using.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER I



New England Clam Chowder I image

Hot and hearty recipe that will warm you up on cold winter days.

Provided by Debbie2

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Seafood

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 slices bacon, diced
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 ½ cups water
4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
3 cups half-and-half
3 tablespoons butter
2 (10 ounce) cans minced clams

Steps:

  • Place diced bacon in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook until almost crisp; add onions, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in water and potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
  • Pour in half-and-half, and add butter. Drain clams, reserving clam liquid; stir clams and 1/2 of the clam liquid into the soup. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Do not allow to boil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.8 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 101.4 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 24.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.5 g, Sodium 706.2 mg, Sugar 2 g

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



New England Clam Chowder image

"I've been to Boston many times over the past few years. During those trips, my mission was to find the best clam chowder in the city," writes Debra Doyle of Avon Lake, Ohio. "I think I found it at Skipjack's restaurant. Theirs is rich and creamy, with just the right amount of potatoes."

Categories     Soup/Stew     Milk/Cream     Onion     Potato     Bacon     Clam     Celery     Winter     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 8 (first-course) or 4 (main-course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 8-ounce bottles clam juice
1 pound russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
3 slices bacon, finely chopped
2 cups chopped onions
1 1/4 cups chopped celery with leaves (about 2 large stalks)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup all purpose flour
6 6 1/2-ounce cans chopped clams, drained, juices reserved
1 1/4 cups half and half
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Steps:

  • Bring bottled clam juice and potatoes to boil in heavy large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until bacon begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add onions, celery, garlic and bay leaf and sauté until vegetables soften, about 6 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes (do not allow flour to brown). Gradually whisk in reserved juices from clams. Add potato mixture, clams, half and half and hot pepper sauce. Simmer chowder 5 minutes to blend flavors, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Bring to simmer before serving.)

HOBEE RESTAURANT BOSTON CLAM CHOWDER



Hobee Restaurant Boston Clam Chowder image

This recipe is from another site that states it is originally from the book, "Food Festivals Of Southern California--Travelers Guide and Cookbook", by Bob Carter

Provided by Bens Mom

Categories     Chowders

Time 1h45m

Yield 4 1/2 gallons, 64 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 bunches celery, chopped
1 1/2 lbs onions, chopped
6 lbs red potatoes, diced
6 (32 ounce) cans minced clams with juice
3 tablespoons thyme, dried
1 tablespoon oregano, dried
2 tablespoons basil, dried
1 cup fish bouillon cube
2 tablespoons white pepper
3 lbs butter
6 cups flour
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 gallon 2% low-fat milk

Steps:

  • Combine celery, onions, potatoes, clams, thyme, oregano, basil, bouillon, and pepper. Cook 30-45 minutes until vegetables are tender.
  • Melt butter and add flour and garlic. Stir constantly until slightly brown.
  • Combine with vegetable mixture and add milk. Stir well and simmer until desired thickness.
  • Note: You may use half and half for a richer chowder in place of the milk. Or use a combination of both.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 389.5, Fat 20.3, SaturatedFat 11.9, Cholesterol 107.5, Sodium 257.6, Carbohydrate 24.7, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 4.2, Protein 26.1

CONTEST-WINNING NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



Contest-Winning New England Clam Chowder image

This is the best New England clam chowder recipe, ever! In the Pacific Northwest, we dig our own razor clams and I grind them for the chowder. Since these aren't readily available, the canned clams are perfectly acceptable. -Sandy Larson, Port Angeles, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 55m

Yield 5 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 center-cut bacon strips
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup water
1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
3 teaspoons reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups fat-free half-and-half, divided
2 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) chopped clams, undrained

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes., Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the cooked bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 788mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 13g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

TRADITIONAL NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



Traditional New England Clam Chowder image

I left a cruise ship with a great souvenir...the recipe for this splendid chowder! It's a traditional soup that stands the test of time. -Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 55m

Yield 7 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

12 fresh cherrystone clams
3 cups cold water
2 bacon strips, diced
1 small onion, chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Steps:

  • Tap clams; discard any that do not close. Place clams and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes or until clams open. , Remove meat from clams; chop meat and set aside. Strain liquid through a cheesecloth-lined colander; set aside., In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Saute onion in drippings until tender., Return bacon to the pan; add clam meat and reserved liquid. Stir in the potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender., Combine flour and milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Gradually stir in cream; heat through (do not boil).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 138 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 175mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

  • Use fresh clams. Fresh clams will give your chowder the best flavor. If you can't find fresh clams, you can use frozen clams, but be sure to thaw them completely before using.
  • Don't overcook the clams. Clams are very delicate and can easily be overcooked. Cook them just until they are opaque, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Use a good quality clam juice. The clam juice is an important part of the chowder, so be sure to use a good quality brand. You can also make your own clam juice by simmering clam shells in water.
  • Add vegetables and seasonings to your taste. This recipe is a basic clam chowder recipe, but you can add vegetables and seasonings to your taste. Some common additions include potatoes, celery, carrots, onions, garlic, and thyme.
  • Serve with oyster crackers or a crusty bread. Clam chowder is traditionally served with oyster crackers or a crusty bread. You can also serve it with a salad or a side of cornbread.

Conclusion:

Clam chowder is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a relatively easy soup to make, and it can be made with a variety of ingredients. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give clam chowder a try.

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