SHELLS CLAM CHOWDER RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat 1 litre of water in a large pan over a high heat. Once boiling, tip in the clams. Cover with a lid and cook for 2-3 mins until the majority of the clam shells have opened. Pour into a sieve over a large jug, reserving the cooking water. Tip the reserved liquid through a muslin-lined sieve into a large non stick saucepan and set aside – this is your stock for the soup.
• Discard any clams which haven’t opened, then remove three-quarters of the clams from their shells and roughly chop.
• Put the bay leaf in the pan with the clam stock and tip in the potato and parsnip cubes. Cook for 5-7 mins until tender. Use a slotted spoon to remove half of the potato and parsnip and set aside. Fish out the bay leaf, spoon off any scum from the surface of the soup, then blitz the remaining stock and vegetables in a food processor until smooth, or using a stick blender.
• Using the same saucepan over a medium heat, pour in the oil, add the bacon lardons, fry until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion to the pan, cook for 5 mins until soft, then pour in the blitzed chowder, potato and parsnip. Heat until simmering, then tip in the chopped clams, take off the heat and stir through the crème fraîche, adding lemon juice to taste. Serve, topped with the crispy bacon, reserved clams in their shells and a scattering of chives and black pepper.

Steps:

• 1. Combine potato and 11/4 cups water in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at high 8 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Set aside. 2. While potatoes cook, combine remaining 1 cup water, clams, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil over medium-high. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes or until shells open. Remove clams from pan using a slotted spoon, and discard any unopened shells. Strain cooking liquid through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl; discard solids. Cool clams slightly. Remove meat from shells, and chop. Discard shells. 3. Heat a medium saucepan over medium. Add bacon to pan, and cook for 4 minutes or until browned and crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan using a slotted spoon. Increase heat to medium-high. Add celery to drippings in pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 4. Combine flour and bottled clam juice in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add clam juice mixture and reserved cooking liquid to pan. Bring mixture to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add reserved potato mixture and 1 teaspoon chopped thyme to pan; reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped clams and half-and-half. Ladle chowder into bowls; sprinkle evenly with bacon, remaining 3 teaspoons chopped thyme, and pepper. Serve chowder with oyster crackers.