Best Nanas Quahog Chowder Recipes

RHODE ISLAND QUAHOG CHOWDER

Steps:

• In large stock pot, cover potatoes with water by 2 inches. Add salt and pepper, and bring to boil then reduce to a simmer.
• In large skillet, heat the salt pork. Add the onion and saute. When onions are translucent, add to the simmering potatoes.
• Add quahogs, quahog juice, and thyme to the potatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through.

QUAHOG CHOWDER

Steps:

• Mince the clams.
• Place bacon or salt pork in the bottom of a large kettle and fry for five minutes.
• Add onion and cook until golden.
• Cover potatoes in boiling water; parboil for five minutes.
• Drain and reserve water.
• Place a layer of potatoes and a layer of minced clams in the kettle with onion; sprinkle with flour and salt/pepper.
• Add remaining potatoes, dredge remaining flour and salt/pepper.
• Cover with 3 cups of boiling water (including the potato water) and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
• Add milk and bring up to boiling point.
• Blend butter or bacon fat with the tablespoon of flour; add clam juice and stir until thickened.
• Add slowly to chowder just before serving.
• Serve hot with crackers.

RHODE ISLAND QUAHOG CHOWDA

Steps:

• Scrub quahaugs to clean well.
• Place into a large kettle with the 6 cups water, cover and cook over medium until shells open (approximately 5 minutes).
• Remove quahaugs from water and throw out quahaugs any that haven't opened up.
• Remove the meat from the opened shells and chop into fine pieces.
• Discard shells, but save all of the cooking liquid.
• In a large pot, render the salt pork until brown.
• Add the onions and saute a few minutes.
• Measure reserved cooking water and add additional water to make a full 8 cups liquid.
• Pour this liquid into the pot with the salt pork and onions.
• Add potatoes, salt and pepper.
• Simmer until the potatoes are very tender (aapproximately 5-10 minutes).
• Add the chopped quahaug meat and bring to a slow boil for 2-3 minutes.
• If you like, you may set a small pitcher of milk or cream on the table for guests to add a splash to individual portions, for those who prefer it that way.

THE BEST CLAM CHOWDER

Steps:

• Put the clams in a large, heavy Dutch oven, add about 4 cups water, then set over medium-high heat. Cover, and cook until clams have opened, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. (Clams that fail to open after 15 to 20 minutes should be discarded.) Strain clam broth through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or doubled-up paper towels, and set aside. Remove clams from shells, and set aside as well.
• Rinse out the pot, and return it to the stove. Add butter, and turn heat to medium-low. Add bacon or salt pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pork has started to brown, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove pork from fat, and set aside.
• Add the leeks to the fat, and cook, stirring frequently, until they are soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in potatoes and wine, and continue cooking until wine has evaporated and the potatoes have just started to soften, approximately 5 minutes. Add enough clam broth to just cover the potatoes, approximately 3 cups, reserving the rest for another use. Add the thyme and the bay leaf.
• Partly cover the pot, and simmer gently until potatoes are tender, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop the clams into bits about the size of the bacon dice.
• When potatoes are tender, add cream and stir in chopped clams and reserved bacon. Add black pepper to taste. Let come to a simmer, and remove from heat. (Do not let chowder come to a full boil.) Fish out the thyme and the bay leaf, and discard.
• The chowder should be allowed to sit for a while to cure. Reheat it to a bare simmer before serving, then garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with oyster crackers.