Title: Compromise Clam Chowder
Categories: Taste, Fish & seaf, Soups & ste
Yield: 6 Servings

36 lg Clams (such as Quahogs) -or-
2 c Shucked fresh clams
2 c Fresh clam juice, from
-clams, or bottled clam
-juice
4 tb Butter
3 Leeks, white parts only,
-thinly sliced into rounds
2 Celery ribs, minced
1/2 Green bell pepper, minced
4 tb Flour
2 c Fish or chicken stock
2 md Potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cn (28-ounce) tomatoes
1 tb Fresh thyme leaves (or 1 ts
-dried), plus 6 sprigs for
-garnish

If using fresh clams, shuck them over a bowl to catch their juices. Measure
2 cups of juices, transfer to a small saucepan and heat just to boiling.
Meanwhile, in a soup pot heat butter over medium-h igh heat, add leeks,
celery and pepper and saute, stirring, for 10 minutes, without browning.
Reduce heat and whisk in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
Whisk in boiling clam juice and fish or chicken stock and heat to
simmering. Add potatoes. Squeeze tomatoes with your hands into soup pot.
Stir in thyme leaves. Simmer for 20 minutes.

In a food processor blend 2/3 cup of clams to a puree; coarsely chop
remaining 1 1/3 cups clams. When ready to serve, reduce soup to barely
simmering and vigorously stir in pureed clams. In a small s aucepan combine
coarsely-chopped clams with a ladleful of chowder and heat for 20 seconds
over low heat. Divide chowder among soup bowls and top each portion with
some chopped clams. Garnish with thy me sprigs.

Recipe by: David Rosengarten Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #513 by "Master
Harper Gaellon" on Mar 12, 1997