My awesome neighborhood corner store sells little tins of smoked clams. I’d never tried them before but every time I passed them, thought about how, though I love smoky, bacon-y clam chowder, perhaps smoked clams could lend chowder a touch of smokiness without the help of pork products?
So today, when I went in to beg the store’s friendly proprietors to give me change for $5 (as the change machine at my laundromat was broken, again), I decided to also purchase a tin of smoked clams for a chilly day soup experiment.
The creamy, smoky results tasted much more expensive than the meager $8.50 it cost to make this soup. Crusty sourdough and a green salad turn it into a perfect winter supper.
Ingredients
- 1 8-oz can smoked clams, packed in oil $2
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter $1 for a stick
- 4 tbsp flour Pantry
- 2 cups milk (1%, 2% or whole--not skim) $1.50 for a pint
- 1 small onion, peeled and diced $0.50
- 4 fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and diced $1
- 1/2 cup half-and-half $1.50 for a pint
- 1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish $1
- salt and pepper to taste Pantry
Recipe Serves 3-4
Directions
- Melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and stir continuously until a sticky dough forms. Add 1 cup water, slowly, whisking as you pour it in. Continue to whisk as you slowly add the milk. You should have a very creamy soup base.
- Add the potatoes, onions and clams with their liquid and stir. You may need to add a bit more water if the soup becomes too thick.
- Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Add half-and-half, parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional parsley.
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What They're Saying
Andrew, on Jan 11, 08:26 PM, wrote:
Tried this recipe out yesterday and it came out great! The smoked clams gave it that smokey flavor that I love without even adding bacon. I can’t imagine using a whole pound of clams though. I used 2 3.75 oz tins and there was tons of clams.
dining table, on Jan 11, 09:35 PM, wrote:
This is a nice recipe! I have been making chowders but I haven’t thought of this one!
Your grandmother!, on Jan 12, 05:57 PM, wrote:
Gabi, my dear! This is an absolute delight and the recipes are FANTASTIC! What a wonderful idea. I am so very proud of you! More later, Jenifer
Alice, on Jan 14, 04:55 PM, wrote:
OMG! I am surprised this even made it to the table. I could not stop taste-testing while making this delectable chowder. I purchased smoked oysters instead of clams (apparently my eyesight is poor). SUPER!
RZ, on Jan 25, 10:51 AM, wrote:
Great easy recipe. I’m a college student and this meal felt like a restaurant appetizer without having to leave my apartment.
Peggy, on Nov 7, 08:12 AM, wrote:
I had a lot of difficulty finding smoked clams. I went to Albertsons, Vons, Trader Joes and Ralphs before giving up. I came across them by accident several weeks later at Pavillions.