1-51ozcanned clamsI get the 3lb canned clams at Costco, you can buy smaller cans and use less if it’s costly or 2 lbs fresh diced clams soak in a cup or more of water with a ½ teaspoon salt.
8ozbaconchopped small
1cupwhite oniondiced small
1cupcelerydiced small
3tablespoonsbutter
3tablespoonflour
1quart32 oz, 4 cups whole milk (or half milk and half heavy cream)
6cupspeeled and diced potatoes
2cupschicken brothor water and 2-3 teaspoons chicken bouillon
2-4teaspoonschicken bouillon
1teaspooncoarse kosher salt
1/2teaspoonblack pepper to taste.
Instructions
Drain canned clams and reserve juice for later, or save the juice if soaking fresh clams.
In a 5 quart pot.
Cook bacon in a tablespoon of oil.
Remove bacon and add onion and celery and stir to cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add flour and stir to combine.
Slowly pour in reserved clam juice and potatoes into the pot.
Potatoes should be under the liquid, if needed you can add a cup of water.
Cook potatoes until fork tender.
Add in the clams, and then slowly pour in the milk or a combination of milk and cream, keeping it at a simmer, not a full rolling boil, cream soups can separate if boiled.
Simmer until desired thickness.
Add in the cooked bacon, reserving some bacon for the top of the soup
Serve with oyster crackers or garlic bread, and fresh parsley is a nice touch too.