Gourmet | March 2004
Treat yourself to fresh clams for this recipe — they make all the difference. This dish originated in Rhode Island during the late 19th century, when, as story has it, Portuguese immigrants added tomatoes to their chowder. British New Englanders believed their creamy chowder to be superior and named the Portuguese version after Manhattan, presuming that New Yorkers were the only people crazy enough to add tomatoes.
Ingredients: [‘hard-shelled clams’, ‘pancetta’, ‘onion’, ‘green bell pepper’, ‘celery’, ‘boiling potato’, ‘clam juice’, ‘diced tomatoes’, ‘fresh flat-leaf parsley’]
Quantity of Ingredients: [“1 1/2 dozen small hard-shelled clams, scrubbed well (1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, 2 pounds total)”,”3 ounces pancetta”,”1 medium onion, chopped “,”1 green bell pepper, diced “,”2 stalks celery, diced “,”1 medium boiling potato, diced “,”2 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice”,”1 cup canned diced tomatoes or 8 ounces canned diced tomatoes, including juice “,”2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley”]
Number of Servings: 4
Steps: [‘Cook pancetta in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low, then add onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in potato, bottled clam juice, and tomatoes (with juice) and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in clams and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams open wide, 8 to 10 minutes. (Discard any clams that after 10 minutes have not opened.) Remove pan from heat.’, ‘Remove most of clamshells with tongs, then detach clams and return them to chowder. (Keep a few in their shells for garnish.) Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste.’, ‘Note: Chowder, without clams or parsley, can be made 1 day ahead. Bring to a simmer before adding clams and proceed.’]