Fall is a time for new beginnings and a breath of fresh air. The cool, crisp air finally seems to have reached Massachusetts. I love making soup any time of year, but there is something about fall in New England that makes me crave clam chowder. This is a family favorite.
The key to making this recipe is preparing all the ingredients and cookware before you start. Organization really helps when you make any recipe and the bonus is that you can pretend you have your own cooking show…or wait, that’s just me 😉. Preparation also is key to getting kids in the kitchen. If they are not old enough to chop, they can add ingredients and stir. Be their sous chef for the day and do the chopping before you try to involve them.
Gluten- Free New England Clam Chowder
Ingredients
About 4 pounds of large Quahog or Cherrystone clams, cleaned
Water
7 sprigs of fresh thyme
6 slices of bacon, diced
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic minced
4 cups of liquid/stock (usually about 3 cups of cooking liquid from the clams and make up the rest with seafood stock).
5 medium sized butter potatoes, peeled and diced
5 sprigs of thyme
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
Pinch of white pepper
1 cup heavy cream
Juice of ½ a lemon
Directions
Add clams to a soup pot over medium high heat and pour in enough water to cover the clams. Place thyme sprigs in water and put the lid on the pot. Bring to a low boil and cook about 10 minutes until all the clams open. Drain and save cooking liquid. Set clams aside to cool, rinse out pot. Place pot back on the stove and add bacon, onion, garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes. Add cooking liquid, potatoes, thyme, black pepper and white pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes until potatoes are soft. Mash potatoes to thicken the soup. Add the heavy cream and lemon juice. Stir, simmer for about 5 minutes and serve!
I haven’t yet found an oyster cracker that is gluten free, so I serve this with gluten-free Schar Table Crackers, Glutino Premium Rounds or with a gluten-free corn bread.
What is your family’s favorite soup? Follow this link for my favorites from 2016.
So glad you are back! When I was a kid I loved Manhattan clam chowder – Ive never had the new england kind. I like a potato soup, or a minestrone.
Thank you!! Glad to be back!
I love clam chowder and we are FINALLY entering soup season! I never thought to add bacon!
Bacon really does make everything better 🙂
My husband would love this! Looks delicious.
I love clam chowder as well, I need to make this at home. Your right preparation is the key when it comes to cooking. I love having everything chopped and ready to go before I start cooking.
Prep definitely helps take the stress out of cooking!