This hearty and healthy Manhattan Clam Chowder will satisfy any size appetite.
Do you prefer white or red? No, not wine, but clam chowder? It’s kind of like asking if you are a vanilla or a chocolate person. Coke or Pepsi. PC or Mac. Okay, getting out of hand here. I admit, that if I had to choose, I would choose New England Clam Chowder over Manhattan Clam Chowder. But, then I made my own version of the lovely red soup, and I’m in love!
Calorie-wise, you can’t compare the two. They are leagues apart. A tomato-based soup OBVIOUSLY has less calories than a cream base. But, yet we still want and desire that silky smooth soup.
I made my Manhattan Clam Chowder for a teacher’s luncheon at school. It’s everything I personally want in a soup. Hearty, full of goodies and not all watery or plain. I kicked it up a notch by adding some jalapeño peppers to it, but they were mild so I spiked it with some cayenne pepper, too.
Manhattan Clam Chowder
This is "the red" chowder. Full of vegetables and very hearty, you won't miss the calories from the "the white one." Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice
Ingredients:
- 31 oz clams, canned
- 4 slices of bacon, chopped
- 3 celery stalk, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced (about 10 oz)
- 1 large russet potato, peeled & diced
- 1 large jalapeño pepper, seeded & diced (optional)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, (optional)
- 29 oz diced tomatoes, canned
- 1 qt V8 juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup parsley, American, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme, fresh
Directions:
- Separate & reserve the juice (approx. 1 quart) from the clams from:
- 31 oz clams, canned
- Heat a large stock pot on medium-high and add:
- 4 slices of bacon , chopped
- When browned, remove bacon pieces and reserve.
- Add to the bacon fat remaining in the pot:
- 3 celery stalk , diced
- 1 medium onion , diced
- 3 medium carrots , diced (about 10 oz)
- 1 large russet potato , peeled & diced
- 1 large jalapeño pepper , seeded & diced (optional)
- Sauté vegetables for approximately 10 minutes.
- Stir in:
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper , (optional)
- Cook for 3 minutes then stir in 1 quart of reserved clam juice.
- Stir in reserved cleaned clams along with:
- 29 oz diced tomatoes, canned
- 1 qt V8 juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup parsley, American , chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme, fresh
- Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Prior to serving, adjust seasoning to taste.
Notes:
Serving Suggestions: Great alone, with a green salad or with a chunk of hearty bread.
Cooking Tips: Allergic to shell fish? Try using fish, like cod, and fish broth instead.
Prep Time:
Yield: Serves 2
Cook Time:
Because when you curl up with a bowl of soup, you don’t want to doze off halfway through eating it, right?
And with the cooler weather, we all need a warm hug for our tummies.
So, which do you prefer: White or Red Chowdah?
Both look amazing. I don't normally eat red chowder but I'd eat that one. I love the creamy texture of white clam chowder. I made it one time with vegan potato leek soup base so i could cut out the cream and it was delicious. I love clams so anyway will do. Thanks for sharing
I love how you lightened this up! It is definitely different, but it looks good (as does the creamy version!)
I might have to give in to the Red. It looks so delicious.
I'm not gonna lie, I don't even like clam chowder. But you're picture is makin me want to eat an entire batch of it!
I always like white chowder because that's I've been eating. I think I tried red one maybe once in my life. This looks so good and I bookmarked already and hope to try it soon. My husband asked me a while ago if I can make clam chowder but I didn't have a good recipe with me. 😉 I'm so happy I won this giveaway. Thank you! Also, thank you so much for introducing my blog. That was very kind of you! 🙂
Looks perfectly delicious. Really like your blog! :]
I never say no to clam chowder. Yours look fantastic!
I’m missing the step in the recipe where it says to add the clams…
Sorry about that. Just fixed it. Step 7 add the clams. Thanks for letting me know!