Martha Stewarts Manhattan Clam Chowder Recipe 55

Steps:

• Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy-bottomed pot over low heat, and add bacon. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium, and cook until bacon is crisp and golden brown. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat, leaving bacon in the pot.
• Add olive oil and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, bay leaves, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Saute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add potatoes and clam broth. The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add enough water to cover. Increase the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook potatoes vigorously until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center, about 10 minutes. If the broth hasn't thickened lightly, smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more to release the starch.
• Add tomatoes, and simmer 5 minutes more. Remove pot from the heat, stir in diced clams and parsley, and season with black pepper. If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour, allowing the flavor to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Ladle into cups or bowls, making sure clams, vegetables, and bacon are evenly divided

Steps:

• 1. Heat a 4- to 6-quart heavy-bottomed pot over low heat, and add bacon. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium, and cook until bacon is crisp and golden brown. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat, leaving bacon in the pot. 2. Add olive oil and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, bay leaves, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Saute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes. 3. Add potatoes and clam broth. The broth should just barely cover the potatoes; if it doesn't, add enough water to cover. Increase the heat, bring to a boil, cover, and cook potatoes vigorously until they are soft on the outside but still firm in the center, about 10 minutes. If the broth hasn't thickened lightly, smash a few potatoes against the side of the pot, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more to release the starch. 4. Add tomatoes, and simmer 5 minutes more. Remove pot from the heat, stir in diced clams and parsley, and season with black pepper. If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour, allowing the flavor to meld. 5. When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Ladle into cups or bowls, making sure clams, vegetables, and bacon are evenly divided.

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add clams, cover, and cook until shells open, about 10 minutes. Transfer clams to a large bowl, reserving cooking liquid. Discard any clams that do not open. Remove meat from shells, and return to bowl. Discard shells. Pour reserved liquid through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl (you should have 2 1/2 cups). Sprinkle a few tablespoons liquid over clams to keep them moist.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Pour off excess drippings, leaving just enough to coat bottom of pot. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and reduce heat to medium. Add onion, celery, garlic, and red-pepper flakes, and cook, scraping bottom of pot, until vegetables are light gold, about 7 minutes.
• Raise heat to high, and stir in Marsala if desired. Add tomatoes, 1 cup reserved tomato juice, 2 1/2 cups reserved clam broth, and the potato. Reduce heat, and simmer until potato is tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cut large clams in half. Stir clams, pancetta, parsley, and oregano into broth, and heat until warmed through, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Start the Cauldron over medium high heat and add oil and butter. As soon as the butter stops foaming add the red pepper flake, onions, celery and carrots.
• Cook until onion is translucent being careful not to burn. Add the garlic and chopped bacon or ham.
• Cook until the meat gets a light brown on it, then add potatoes, clam juice and clams with the liquor from the cans. Add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Add the bay leaves and Thyme.
• Pour the tomatoes into a large bowl and mash with a potato masher until just crushed, leaving some larger bits if desired. Add tomatoes to the Cauldron and bring to a light boil for about 10 minutes.
• Add a few twists of pepper. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Salt to taste, then add some of the parsley during the simmer. Save some parsley for garnish.
• Serve hot with buttered toast points or saltine crackers.