Manhattan Clam Chowder
Why I Love This Recipe
I am a bigger fan of the tomato-based version over the cream-based. Just my personal preference. I discovered this love as a child in the Midwest, where we had little exposure in the lean 70's to exotic seafoods like CLAMS. Our specialty here is Fried Things Made From Pork.
Ingredients You'll Need
3-4 tblsp Olive oil
1/2 lb or so Jowl Bacon or Smoked Ham, diced
5-6 med Red potatoes, diced
1 sm Onion, chopped
2 Carrots, sliced
1 rib Celery w/leaves, sliced
Salt & Black Pepper to taste
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 Bay leaf, or 1/4tsp crushed
1/2 tsp ea: Sage, Thyme, White Pepper
2 tblsp Flour
28oz can Dei Fratelli or Glen Muir diced tomatoes
6.5oz (or 10oz, if you really like) Clams, canned or shucked and chopped
3-4 c Chicken stock or Clam juice, or a combo of both, as needed & as you prefer
Directions
Heat oil in lg Dutch oven and fry bacon & veggies, seasoned w/salt & pepper and spices, til beginning to brown and tender up, approx 8-10min.
Transfer veggies to CrockPot. Add flour and toss to coat and dissolve. Add tomatoes to Dutch oven and deglaze. Add clams and heat thru.
Pour tomatoes & clams into Crock and stir to mix. Add sufficient stock to cover and make soupy when blended; it will thicken ever so slightly as it stews.
Cook 4-8hrs, stirring oh-so-seldom (really not all that necessary unless you think it might be scorching around the surface edges), then serve HOT w/a nice crusty bread.
