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Manhattan Clam Chowder

Manhattan Clam Chowder is a brothy, low calorie chowder packed with chopped clams and vegetables.
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Calories: 250kcal
Author: Pat Nyswonger

Ingredients

  • 4 thick-cut smoky bacon diced
  • 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves grated or minced
  • 2 carrots cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 1 8- inch celery stalk sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 3 bottles 8 oz each of clam juice
  • 3 large Yukon Gold Potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
  • 1 28- oz can diced tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 dried bay leaves
  • 4 cans 6 oz. each chopped clams with their liquid (See Notes)
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven or large soup pot set over medium-high heat, add the diced bacon and cook until crisp.  Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté the vegetables for 3-5 minutes.
  • Pour in the wine and cook for 1 minute to burn off the alcohol; then add the clam juice, potatoes, tomatoes, tomato paste, Old Bay, peppers, dried thyme and bay leaves.  Bring to a boil; then reduce to low and simmer for 10 minutes.  
  • Stir in the chopped clams and their liquid and cook on low heat for 5 minutes.  

To Serve:

  • Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

  • To use fresh clams, steam 5 pounds of clams in 2 cups of water until they open. let cool and remove clams, discard shells and chop clams.  Use the clam broth as directed in recipe.  Off the heat, add the clams to the hot chowder and let rest for 5 minutes.  Over-cooking the clams will result in tough, chewy clams.
  • 1 pint of shucked fresh clams with their liquid may be chopped and substituted for canned clams.
  • This chowder is gluten-free, and low-calorie

Nutrition

Serving: 1-1/2 Cups | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 872mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g