New England (a.k.a. Speonk’s) Clam Chowder
Notes
This chowder is named after my daughter’s best friend Meagan who I affectionately call Speonk. The nickname comes from one of Meg’s first summer visits to Jenn’s grandmother’s house in Westhampton. As we drove out to the east end of Long Island I would ask her to pronounce the various names of the towns. Well Remsenburgh, Patchogue, Ronkonkama etc. were tough for this sweet southern girl to pronounce. SPEONK however flowed from her tongue like a native. From then on she has been SPEONK to me.
Ingredients
- 6 8-ounce bottles clam juice (1460 grams)
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (906 grams)
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter (113 grams)
- 1 lb. bacon, finely chopped (453 grams
- 4 cups chopped onions (642 grams)
- 2 1/2 cups chopped celery with leaves (about 2 large stalks) (350 grams
- 5 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 cup all purpose flour (120 grams)
- 12 6 1/2-ounce cans chopped clams, drained, juices reserved
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
- Chopped Italian parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring bottled clam juice and potatoes to boil in heavy large pot over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Sauté bacon in a second large pot over medium heat and cook until bacon begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add onions, celery, garlic and bay leaf and sauté until vegetables soften, about 6 minutes. Add to the first large pot with the potatoes and clam juice
- In the second pot pot melt butter stir in flour and cook 2 minutes (do not allow flour to brown). Gradually whisk in reserved juices from clams.
- Add to the first pot with the potato mixture, bacon, onion, celery, garlic, clams, heavy cream and hot pepper sauce. Simmer chowder 5 minutes to blend flavors, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Bring to simmer before serving.)