Best 8 Healthy Clam Chowder Recipes

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
• Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

CLAM CHOWDER, LIGHTENED UP

Steps:

• In a large pot, melt butter. Add onions, and heat on low heat until onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add flour and stir 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the milk, vegetable broth, reserved clam juice, potatoes, bay leaf, thyme and salt & pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil, then cover and cook on low until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Remove half of the soup and discard bay leaves, put soup in blender and blend until smooth. Return to pot.
• Add clams, corn and adjust salt if needed and cook another 5 minutes.
• Serve and garnish with fresh parsley.

CATHIE'S CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon, celery and onion until onion is translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux, cooking until bubbly. Whisk in 1 jar of clam juice, until smooth. Stir in onion mixture. Pour in half-and-half, stirring constantly. Stir in clams, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
• Season with pepper and serve.

CONTEST-WINNING NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes., Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the cooked bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

HEALTHY CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute the mushrooms, celery and onion in margarine until tender. In a bowl, whisk the soup, clam juice and wine or broth; stir into vegetable mixture. Add the potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. , Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add clams; cover and simmer for 5-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

LOW-FAT CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Put the clams and 2 cups water in a pot. Cover, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until the clams open, 5 to 10 minutes (discard any that do not open); transfer the clams to a bowl.
• Pour the liquid into a large measuring cup. (You should have 3 cups liquid; add water if needed.) Wipe out the pot. Pour the liquid back into the pot through a paper towel-lined sieve. Add the potatoes, cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove one-third of the potatoes. Continue to cook the remaining potatoes, covered, until soft, about 10 more minutes. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth. Return the soup to the pot.
• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and bay leaves and cook, stirring, about 3 more minutes. Add the bacon mixture and reserved potatoes to the soup. Cover and cook over low heat, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove the clams from their shells and roughly chop. Stir the clam meat and half-and-half into the soup; remove from the heat, cover and set aside, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Discard the bay leaves. Season the soup with salt and pepper and reheat. Serve topped with a slice of butter, parsley, chives and paprika.

HEALTHY MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place salt pork into your soup pot and cook until fat renders and salt pork browns lightly (no need to drain fat unless you want to).
• Add the onion, celery, leek, green pepper and garlic, and cook, stirring, until veggies become tender.
• Add broth/water, reserved clam juice, undrained tomatoes (if you use fresh tomato you may want to add some tomato juice, broth, or water to compensate), bay leaf, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, Tabasco, worcestershire, and Old Bay seasoning.
• Stir well, bring to a boil and then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add chopped turnips and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes more.
• Add drained clams and heat for about 5 minutes or until warmed through.
• Discard bay leaf before serving and check seasonings to see if adjustment is necessary.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER I

Steps:

• Place diced bacon in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook until almost crisp; add onions, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in water and potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
• Pour in half-and-half, and add butter. Drain clams, reserving clam liquid; stir clams and 1/2 of the clam liquid into the soup. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Do not allow to boil.