This year’s “Soup”er Bowl winner will be determined in the kitchen.
Here are two of our favorite recipes from the Food Network. Vote now for who you think should win!
New England Clam Chowder
Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell (Host: Secrets of a Restaurant Chef & Worst Cooks in America)
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Level: Intermediate
- Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 4 dozen little neck or cherry stone clams, scrubbed
- 4 thick slices bacon, cut into lardons
- 1 large onions, cut into 1/4 inch dice
- Kosher salt
- 11/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch dice
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 bundle of thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 to 2 shakes hot sauce, optional (recommended: Tabasco)
- Extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
Place the clams and 1 cup of water in a large pot. Cover and place over a high heat and cook the clams for 6 to 7 minutes. Uncover and remove the open clams.Cover the pot again and continue cooking the clams that haven’t opened yet. Cook the clams for another 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and discard any clams that have not opened. Strain the liquid from the pot through a mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter and reserve.
Coarsely chop the clams and reserve.
Drizzle a few drops of olive oil into the bottom of the clam pot and toss in the bacon. Bring the pan to a medium heat. When the bacon has let off a lot of fat and become brown and crispy, toss in the onions and season lightly with salt. Cook the onions until they are very soft and aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and potato mixture and stir to combine. Gradually whisk in the reserved clam juice. When the clam juice has been whisked in and there are no lumps, whisk in the milk and heavy cream and toss in the bay leaves and thyme. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
Toss in the reserved clams. Taste and re-season if needed and add hot sauce if using.
Manhattan Clam Chowder
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001
Ingredients
- 8 pounds quahog or large cherrystone clams, scrubbed and rinsed, opened clams discarded
- 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch lengths
- 2 cups finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
- 3/4 cup diced carrot
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 1/4 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 3 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes or 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, chopped and juices reserved
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt
Directions
In a large stockpot bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add clams, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover, quickly stir clams well with a wooden spoon, and recover. Allow clams to cook 5 to 10 minutes longer (this will depend on the type and size of clams you are using), or until most of the clams are opened. Transfer clams to a large bowl or baking dish and strain broth through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. (You should have about 6 cups of clam broth. If not, add enough water to bring the volume up to 6 cups.) When clams are cool enough to handle, remove them from their shells and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Set clams and broth aside.
In a large heavy pot add bacon and render until golden and crispy. Pour off all fat except 4 tablespoons. Addonions, celery, bell pepper and carrots and cook for 10 minutes, until vegetables are softened. Do not allow to color. Add garlic, bay leaves, oregano, thyme and crushed red pepper and cook an additional 2 minutes. Increase heat to high and add potatoes, reserved clam broth, and chicken stock and bring to a boil, covered. Cook for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and the broth has thickened somewhat. Add tomatoes and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and add reserved clams and parsley and season with pepper and salt, if necessary. Allow chowder to sit for up to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld, then reheat slowly over low fire if necessary. Do not allow to boil.