Perfect Christmas Clam Chowder — New England Christmas Comfort

Clam chowder is the New England Christmas Eve comfort soup. Done right, it's creamy without being heavy, with tender potatoes and briny clams. The perfect start to a Christmas Eve meal.

The classic recipe (serves 6-8)

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (8-oz) bottles clam juice
• 2 cans chopped clams with juice (6 oz each)
• 2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• Salt; pepper
• Oyster crackers (for serving)
• Chopped parsley (garnish)

Method

1. In large pot, cook bacon until crispy
2. Add onion + celery; cook 5 min
3. Add garlic; cook 1 min
4. Add clam juice + canned clam liquid (drain clams)
5. Add potatoes + bay leaf + thyme
6. Simmer until potatoes tender (10-15 min)
7. In separate pan, melt butter + whisk flour (roux)
8. Whisk in 1 cup of broth from pot; cook 2 min
9. Return mixture to pot; stir
10. Add cream + clams; heat through (don't boil)
11. Salt; pepper to taste
12. Serve with oyster crackers; garnish with parsley

Variations

Manhattan-style (red)

• Skip cream
• Add 1 can diced tomatoes
• Add 2 cups water + tomato juice

With fresh clams

• Use 2 lbs fresh littleneck clams
• Steam first; chop meat; use cooking liquid

Smoked

• Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• A specific smoky depth

What NOT to do

• Don't boil the cream (curdles)
• Don't overcook potatoes (mushy)
• Don't skip the bacon (the flavor base)
• Don't use cheap canned clams (matters)

Cross-references

For Christmas Eve seafood feast — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas prawn pasta — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas dinner rolls — adjacent.

For Christmas soup ideas — broader.

Perfect Christmas clam chowder is New England comfort. Creamy; tender potatoes; briny clams. The Christmas Eve soup that warms everyone.