New England Clam Chowder

cream

🥗Healthier: coconut milk

💰Cheaper: milk

Coconut milk is lower in calories and dairy-free, while milk is more budget-friendly.

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Turkey bacon is lower in fat, and smoked sausage can be more affordable.

Brown the bacon until crispy.

Add a big spoonful of garlic and bloom it for about a minute.

Add shredded carrot, onion, and celery to the pot.

Season with salt, black pepper, and dried thyme, mixing well.

Make a well in the center of the mixture and add butter and flour to create a roux.

Stir the roux into the vegetables and cook for a couple of minutes to cook out the starch.

Add in little red potatoes and stir to combine.

Pour in the clam juice and mix immediately to avoid clumping of the roux.

Add the clams to the mixture, noting that the base liquid is clam juice, not cream.

Pour in about 1 quart of cream, but emphasize not to make it a cream soup.

Let the chowder thicken and reduce before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens