ye olde daddy's clam chowder
This is a family favorite that conjures up memories of my father and summers as a kid visiting relatives on the Coney Island Boardwalk. After a full day of activities, we'd sip red chowder from paper cups, then I'd conk out in the back seat of my parents' Studebaker on the ride home to Long Island. This is my up-to-date version of my dad's rendition of Manhattan Clam Chowder.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
So many veggies and so much flavor in this clam chowder. If you're used to a creamy New England-style clam chowder, this version is the complete opposite. Known as Manhattan clam chowder, it's lighter and healthier, but still packed with tons of flavor. There's a tomato-based broth that's rich and tangy. The onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, string beans, and corn add fresh flavor and help to make the chowder hearty. Bacon adds a hint of smoky flavor, while the clams add a slightly sweet but also briny flavor. This is a well-balanced and delicious clam chowder.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 large onions, diced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 5 slices turkey bacon, cooked
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
- 1 bottle clam juice (8 oz)
- 8 ounces water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 baking potatoes, peeled and diced 1/2 inch
- 6 ounces fresh string beans, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 16 ounces frozen corn
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cans chopped or minced clams
- additional water if broth is too thick
How To Make ye olde daddy's clam chowder
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Step 1In a large soup pot, on medium low temp, heat canola oil. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Then add salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Mix to combine. Cover pot, lower the heat a bit, and sweat vegetables until they're soft, about 5-8 minutes. -
Step 2Add cooked bacon and stir to combine.
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Step 3Add crushed tomatoes, clam juice, and water. Bring the liquids to a simmer and cook covered on low for 20 minutes. Cook on very low if the liquids are bubbling too much. Add sugar and simmer another 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning and make sure the tomatoes are sweet enough. Add more sugar if necessary.
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Step 4Add diced potatoes and simmer on low for 15 minutes covered.
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Step 5Add string beans, corn, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook 5 minutes.
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Step 6Add the clams. Stir, let the clams heat up, and you're ready to serve.
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