Clam chowder
Clam chowder is a type of thick soup or stew typically made with milk, butter, potatoes, onions, and clams. The dish has a long history, with its roots stretching back to 18th-century England and France.
The earliest known recipe for clam chowder appeared in The Compleat Housewife, or Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion, a cookbook published in London in 1727. This early recipe was very similar to the modern version of the dish, with the addition of a few ingredients that are no longer used, such as leeks, carrots, and turnips.
The dish gained popularity in North America during the 18th century, where it was commonly made with salted pork and beef. It wasn't until the 19th century that the dish began to be made with the ingredients that are now most commonly associated with it.
Advice
When making clam chowder, it's important to select the freshest ingredients possible. Fresh clams are ideal for the soup, but you can also use canned clams if necessary. When making the soup base, be sure to use a good combination of vegetables and seasonings, such as onions, celery, potatoes, garlic, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and white pepper. Also, to get the best flavor, you should use a combination of both water and milk in the soup base. Finally, be sure to simmer the soup for at least an hour to allow the ingredients to combine and the flavors to mingle.
Questions
What is clam chowder soup made of?
Clam chowder soup is typically made of clams, potatoes, onions, celery, broth, butter, and cream. Variations may also include bacon, garlic, bell peppers, and herbs.
What are the 2 types of clam chowder?
The two types of clam chowder are New England Clam Chowder and Manhattan Clam Chowder.
Is clam chowder soup healthy?
Whether or not clam chowder soup is considered healthy depends on the recipe and ingredients used to make it. Generally speaking, traditional clam chowder recipes are made with a creamy base, potatoes, clams, and other vegetables, which can make it a relatively nutritious soup. However, there are some recipes that include high-fat ingredients such as butter, cream, and bacon, which can add extra calories and saturated fat. If you are looking to make a healthier version of clam chowder, look for recipes that use low-fat milk, broth, or a non-dairy alternative and skip the bacon.
What is the difference between New England and Rhode Island clam chowder?
New England clam chowder is a creamy chowder made with milk or cream and potatoes, whereas Rhode Island clam chowder is made with a clear broth, tomatoes, and onions. The two soups differ in ingredients, texture, and flavor.
What is the crunchy stuff in clam chowder?
The crunchy stuff in clam chowder is usually bits of fried bacon, but it can also include fried onions, croutons, or crackers.
Does Campbell's clam chowder have real clams?
Yes, Campbell's clam chowder does contain real clams. It also contains potatoes, onions, celery, and other vegetables.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
The Best Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- butter
- bay leaf
- white wine
- parsley
- salt pork
- cream
- leek
- quahog clam
- yukon gold potato
- thyme
Rhode Island Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- butter
- bay leaf
- spanish onion
- red bliss potato
- white wine
- parsley
- salt pork
- celery
- quahog clam
- thyme
East Hampton Clam Chowder
- salt
- clam juice
- thyme
- all purpose flour
- black pepper
- butter
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- milk
- chowder clam
- potato
Manhattan Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- red pepper flake
- butter
- tomato
- bay leaf
- spanish onion
- bell pepper
- parsley
- salt pork
- garlic
- celery
- carrot
- quahog clam
- yukon gold potato
- thyme
Thick and Creamy New England Clam Chowder
- heavy cream
- milk
- butter
- dill weed
- onion
- celery soup cream
- clam
- bacon
- potato
Crock Pot Clam Chowder
- onion
- black pepper
- salt
- water
- clam
- half
- cornstarch
- salt pork
- potato
Legal Seafood's Clam Chowder Recipe
- garlic
- water
- potato
- light cream
- onion
- salt pork
- fish stock
- all purpose flour
- littleneck clam
- clam juice
- oyster cracker
Creamy Clam Chowder (Whole30, Paleo, Dairy Free)
- clam juice
- cashew
- red potato
- pepper
- salt
- bay leaf
- onion
- celery
- chicken broth
- garlic
- arrowroot powder
- clam
- bacon
- chive
Classic Clam Chowder
- clam juice
- onion
- milk
- salt
- potato
- bacon
- celery
- all purpose flour
- butter
- black pepper
Emeril's Boston Clam Chowder Recipe
- leek
- onion
- black pepper
- salt
- white potato
- thyme
- carrot
- all purpose flour
- celery
- bacon
- heavy cream
- littleneck clam
- parsley
- bay leaf
- clam juice
Clam Chowder With Spinach and Dill
- salt
- lemon zest
- celery
- butter
- olive oil
- thyme
- green onion
- spinach
- cayenne pepper
- leek
- onion
- potato
- dill
- bay leaf
- clam
- smoked bacon
- crème fraîche
Slow Cooker Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder
- tomato
- clam juice
- onion
- butter
- parsley
- thyme
- bay leaf
- all purpose flour
- salt
- bacon
- carrot
- clam
- red skinned potato
- celery
- black pepper
- parsley
Corn and Clam Chowder With Zucchini and Herbs
- salt
- celery
- oregano
- thyme
- yellow polenta
- red pepper
- onion
- olive oil
- garlic
- lime
- corn
- potato
- parsley
- clam broth
- zucchini
- water
- crème fraîche
- chowder clam
New England Clam Chowder Recipe
- salt
- oyster cracker
- clam juice
- heavy cream
- onion
- milk
- yukon gold potato
- salt pork
- butter
- bay leaf
- celery
- live cherrystone
Easy Clam Chowder Recipe
- green onion
- whipping cream
- chicken broth
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion
- celery
- bacon
- salt
- carrot
- clam
- potato
- cream cheese
The BEST Clam Chowder (Market Street Grill Copycat)
- celery
- bell pepper
- leek
- onion
- potato
- tabasco
- salt
- water
- half
- butter
- all purpose flour
- clam
- sherry wine
- black pepper
- thyme
- bay leaf
Classic New England Clam Chowder
- onion
- all purpose flour
- salt
- half
- water
- clam
- bacon
- butter
- russet potato
- black pepper
Clam Chowder
- half
- chicken broth
- milk
- red wine vinegar
- salt
- onion
- russet potato
- all purpose flour
- black pepper
- bell pepper
- bell pepper
- olive oil
- garlic
- bay leaf
- celery
- butter
- clam
Creamy Corn and Clam Chowder With Crispy Chorizo
- cilantro
- salt
- hot smoked spanish paprika
- onion
- lime juice
- littleneck clam
- chorizo
- corn
- vegetable oil
- garlic
New England Clam Chowder
- heavy cream
- white wine
- yukon gold potato
- water
- dill
- all purpose flour
- clam juice
- egg
- puff pastry dough
- chive
- clam
- chicken broth
- soil leek
- celery
- milk
- butter
- bacon
- salt
- salt
Clam Chowder
- chicken broth
- half
- milk
- onion
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- celery
- clam
- russet potato
- bacon
- salt
Manhattan Clam Chowder
- white wine
- thyme
- bay seasoning
- onion
- tomato
- parsley
- black pepper
- celery
- carrot
- tomato paste
- clam juice
- bay leaf
- yukon gold potato
- garlic
- clam
- smoky bacon
- red pepper flake
Instant Pot Clam Chowder
- clam
- clam juice
- onion
- water
- olive oil
- thyme
- milk
- salt
- celery
- heavy cream
- black pepper
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- bacon
- potato
- oyster cracker
Canteen Clam Chowder
- sherry
- basil
- oregano
- white pepper
- red potato
- all purpose flour
- butter
- clam stock
- bacon
- olive oil
- clam
- onion
- heavy cream
- garlic
- celery
- bay leaf
Clam Chowder
- chive
- oyster cracker
- jalapeño
- heavy cream
- bacon
- black pepper
- green onion
- corn
- clam
- cornstarch
- salt
- garlic
- yukon gold potato
- butter
Creamy Clam Chowder
- clam juice
- chive
- salt
- carrot
- onion
- cheddar cheese
- bacon
- black pepper
- all purpose flour
- half
- garlic
- celery
- chicken broth
- clam
- russet potato
New England Clam Chowder
- half
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- creole seasoning
- thyme
- bay leaf
- onion
- clam juice
- heavy cream
- celery
- water
- butter
- potato
- bacon
- live clam
- chive
- salt
Manhattan Clam Chowder Recipe
- bay leaf
- onion
- italian seasoning
- white wine
- bell pepper
- tomato
- tomato paste
- russet potato
- bacon
- celery
- clam juice
- garlic
- clam
- red pepper flake
Lighter New England Clam Chowder
- bay seasoning
- clam juice
- bay leaf
- onion
- celery
- yukon gold
- thyme
- clam
- garlic
- all purpose flour
- milk
- bacon
- green onion
- salt
Pacific Razor Clam Chowder Recipe
- buttery cracker
- salt
- clam juice
- tabasco sauce
- yukon gold potato
- thyme
- f leek
- heavy cream
- vermouth
- cayenne pepper
- butter
- fish sauce
- bay leaf
- celery
- razor clam meat
- bacon
Pressure-Cooker Sonoran Clam Chowder
- envelope taco seasoning
- onion
- sweet red pepper
- chicken stock
- green chile
- half cream
- cilantro
- clam
- butter
- yukon gold potato
- garlic
- peppered bacon
Rhode Island Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- salt
- dill
- bay leaf
- onion
- olive oil
- parsley
- celery
- russet potato
- cherrystone clam
- cloves garlic clove
Rhode Island Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- salt
- dill
- bay leaf
- onion
- olive oil
- parsley
- celery
- russet potato
- cherrystone clam
- garlic
Instant Pot Clam Chowder
- celery
- onion
- garlic
- salt
- red wine vinegar
- all purpose flour
- butter
- half
- yukon gold potato
- clam
- bacon
- clam juice
- baguette
- chive
- black pepper
- oyster cracker
- saltine cracker
New England Clam Chowder
- salt
- oyster cracker
- thyme
- clam
- heavy cream
- butter
- bay leaf
- onion
- new potato
- bacon
Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder
- black pepper
- oyster cracker
- thyme
- marjoram
- tomato
- garlic
- clam juice
- bay leaf
- onion
- russet potato
- topneck
- salt pork
- bacon
- celery
Bonac Clam Chowder
- parsley
- butter
- salt pork
- thyme
- onion
- celery
- qt clam juice
- russet potato
- shucked cherrystone clam
- carrot
- tomato
New England Clam Chowder
- salt
- salt pork
- heavy cream
- milk
- red potato
- butter
- all purpose flour
- onion
- littleneck clam
Minorcan Clam Chowder
- cracker
- salt
- marjoram
- oregano
- clam juice
- waxy potato
- olive oil
- basil
- tomato
- bay leaf
- datil
- bell pepper
- onion
- hardshell clam
- thyme
- salt pork
- fish stock
- garlic
- plum tomato
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Higher Ratings
- garlic
Staple Ingredients
- onion 64%
- celery 56%
- salt 54%
- clam 49%
Common Ingredients
- butter 44%
- bacon 41%
- black pepper 41%
- garlic 41%
- all purpose flour 38%
- bay leaf 38%
- clam juice 36%
- thyme 33%
Usual Ingredients
- potato 28%
- milk 23%
- heavy cream 21%
- water 21%
- carrot 18%
- half 18%
- parsley 18%
- yukon gold potato 18%
- chicken broth 15%
- salt pork 15%
Rarey Ingredients
- chive 13%
- olive oil 13%
- russet potato 13%
- white wine 13%