Richard Blais' (Top Chef) Newer England Clam Chowder
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Cook time: 
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Serves: 4 to 6 pax
 
Ingredients
Clam Chowder
  • 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 100g Bacon (Diced)
  • 1 Yellow Onion (Diced)
  • 2 Stalk of Celery (Diced)
  • 1 Leek, white part only (finely diced)
  • 2 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme (leaves only) or ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 1 Bay Leave
  • Salt & Pepper to taste (I use 1 teaspoon of salt & ¼ teaspoon of pepper - subject to type of chicken stock used)
  • 200g Clam (no shell) - to blend with chicken stock
  • 200g Chicken Stock
  • 1 litre heavy cream
  • 200g Starchy Potatoes
  • 24 pieces of clams (with shell or without)
Fried Cornmeal Clam
  • About 20 pieces of clam (drained and pat dry)
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teapoon pepper
Garnishes
  • Fried Cornmeal Clam
  • 1 sprig Fresh Thyme (leaves only)
Instructions
Clam Chowder
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat
  2. Add diced bacon to the hot oil and cook until brown.
  3. Add in onions, leeks, celery, thyme, bay leave and cooked until vegetable soften, about 6 to 8 minutes
  4. Meanwhile, blend the 200g of clam and chicken stock in a blender
  5. Add the clam stock mixture, cream and potatoes into the pot of vegetables
  6. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for about 10 minutes until the potatoes soften.
  7. Add in the 24 clams and cooked until shell open (unshelled ones for about 3 mins)
  8. Season with salt and pepper
  9. Ladle the soup into each serving bowl and top with fried cornmeal clams.
  10. Garnish with thyme leaves and serve hot with crusty bread
Fried Cornmeal Clam
  1. While the soup is simmering, prepare the fried cornmeal clam
  2. Add salt & pepper to the cornmeal and mix well
  3. Dredge the clams in the seasoned cornmeal
  4. Heat about ½ cup of oil in a frying pan (add more oil if require).
  5. Add in the clam and fry until brown, about 1 to 2 minutes
  6. Remove from the frying pan and set aside until required
Recipe by eckitchensg at http://eckitchensg.com/2015/08/richard-blais-top-chef-newer-england-clam-chowder/