Creamy Jersey Clam and Potato Chowder with Crispy Pancetta

A comforting and flavorful clam chowder with a Jersey twist, featuring local clams and potatoes, topped with crispy pancetta for added texture and flavor.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Total Time

45 minutes

Calories

725 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

2 items

Cost

£4.02/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Dinner•Snack•Soup

Cuisine:

Jersey•Italian

Main Ingredient:

Rice

Mood:

Comfort Food•Healthy

Ingredients

Servings

4ozPancetta(thinly sliced)

£2.75

1tablespoonOlive Oil

£0.10

1mediumYellow Onion(diced)

£0.50

2stalksCelery(diced)

£0.40

2clovesGarlic(minced)

£0.15

1.5lbsYukon Gold Potatoes(peeled and diced)

£1.20

4cupsChicken Broth

£1.00

1Bay Leaf

£0.10

1teaspoonFresh Thyme(chopped)

£0.30

2lbsLittleneck Clams(scrubbed)

£8.00

1cupHeavy Cream

£1.20

2tablespoonsFresh Parsley(chopped, for garnish)

£0.40

to tasteSalt

to tasteBlack Pepper

Total Cost

£16.10

£4.02 per serving

Instructions

1.
Place the pancetta in a cold skillet over medium heat. Cook, turning occasionally, until crispy and golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the skillet and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve the rendered pancetta fat.
2.
In the same pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the reserved pancetta fat (discard the rest) over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
3.
Add the diced potatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, and thyme to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
4.
Add the clams to the pot. Cover and cook until the clams open, about 5-7 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open.
5.
Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat through, but do not boil.
6.
Ladle the chowder into bowls and garnish with crispy pancetta and fresh parsley.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (625g)

725 kcal / 3033 kJ

Carbs

38g

15% of RDA

Fat

48g

69% of RDA

Protein

45g

90% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

4 g

13% of RDA

Sugar

6 g

7% of RDA

Sodium

850 mg

37% of RDA

Saturated Fat

25 g

125% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a thicker chowder, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot before adding the cream.

If you prefer a smoother chowder, you can use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup before adding the cream.

Make sure to scrub the clams thoroughly to remove any sand or grit.

Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make this vegetarian, but omit the pancetta.

Clams can be steamed seperately, strain broth with cheese cloth. Add clams and broth at appropriate step in recipe.

Cooking Equipment

Large pot or Dutch oven

Skillet

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

Complete the Meal

Main Course

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45 minutes

4 servings

Medium

"Pairs perfectly with this starter"

Dessert

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A comforting and elegant dessert featuring sweet pears, nutty frangipane, and a light mascarpone cream, perfect after a hearty meal like risotto.

55 minutes

6 servings