Dave's classic clear-broth clam chowder

1 pot

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
12 Quahog clams; scrubbed
4 slices Salt pork; diced
2 quarts Water or stock
1 cup Carrots; diced
1 cup Onion; coarsely chopped
1 cup Celery; diced
4 cups Potatoes; pared & cubed
1½ teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Pepper
1 teaspoon Thyme
½ teaspoon Savory
1 tablespoon Flour
1 tablespoon Butter

Directions

Scrub the quahogs well with a stiff brush to remove external sand.

(Don't worry too much about sand inside; quahogs are notoriously tight clams and don't pick up a lot of grit.) Steam the clams in about a cup of water (or half a cup of water and half a cup of dry white wine) until they open. Discard any that remain closed. Drain, reserving the broth. Remove the clams from the shells, dice the meat coarsely, and set them aside in a bowl with the broth poured over them.

In a heavy stockpot, fry out salt pork until crisp. Add carrots, onion, and celery and sautee gently just until the onion is transparent and amber. Add the water or stock and bring to a boil, then add potatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for ten minutes, then add herbs, flour, and butter. Bring back to a boil and stir in clams and clam broth. Simmer for a few minutes and serve.

Posted to COOKING by Dave Sacerdote, 12/95 Submitted By DAVE SACERDOTE On 12-06-95

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