New England Clam Chowder
One of my favorite summer activites is digging quahogs (what we Rhode Islanders call the type of large clam native to our state). Just down the street from the house I grew up in, there is a certain secret sandy patch beyond the rocks where my family has dug clams for years. There are no wellies or rakes involved. We dig with our feet and dive down to collect each clam we uncover.
There is something extremely satisfying about harvesting a meal, whether it's picked from your garden or pulled from the sea. If you ever find yourself in RI at low tide, head to the sea, strip down and get digging.
Ingredients:
10 pounds quahogs scrubbed, soaked and rinsed, open clams discarded 6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (2 1/2 to 3 cups) 1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons minced garlic
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, or to taste 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into half-tablespoon pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives or green onions
Prep the clams. Soak them in the sink or a large pot of water with about 1 tablespoon of cornmeal. This will get them to flush out excess sand before they get cooked and makes for a less sandy chowder.
In a large stockpot bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the clams, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover the pot and quickly stir the clams with a wooden spoon. Cover and cook 5 to 10 minutes longer (this will depend on the type and size of the clams), or until most of the clams are open. Transfer the clams to a large bowl or baking dish and strain the broth twice through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, being careful to strain out the sand. (You should have about 8 cups of clam broth. If not, add enough water to bring the volume up to 8 cups.) When the clams are cool enough to handle, remove them from their shells and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. I recommend washing out the bellies, which are filled with sand and sea matter. Set the clams and broth aside. Cook the bacon in a large heavy pot over medium heat until crisp and the fat is rendered. Add the 4 tablespoons butter, leeks, onions, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and bay leaves and cook until the vegetables are thoroughly wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and reserved clam broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the broth thickens slightly and the potatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes. (If you like a thicker broth, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon.). Remove from the heat, Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves, stir in the clams and cream, and season with the pepper and the salt to taste. Set the chowder aside for 1 hour, covered, to allow the flavors to marry. Place the pot over low heat and slowly reheat, being careful not to let boil. Garnish each bowl with some parsley and chives.
