When you hear about clam chowder, the first thing that comes to your mind is the thick creamy soup cooked using clams, cream and broth. That is what New England Chowder is all about. Even though there are many varieties of clam chowder, this style continues to be very popular among clam chowder lovers.
History of New England Chowder
This chowder is one of the favorite dishes of Americans. There is a famous saying that goes: “The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought for one bowl of New England Clam Chowder.” Clam chowder was first discovered by Breton fishermen who migrated from the South to New England. They used to combine all the ingredients they had with their catch and made a pot full of soup. Over the course of time, the recipe was refined to serve commercially. A large amount of milk and cream is added to the soup to make it more creamy and tasty. No vegetables are added, but in some areas they use bay leaves for garnishing and most recipes call for potatoes, onions and celery.
How is it Prepared?
This popular soup is prepared using clams, cream or milk and broth. Potatoes, onions, and a small portion of pork are usually added. The base of the soup is thick cream or milk. New England clam chowder is most popular all throughout the US, and it is what people usually envision when they hear the term ‘clam chowder.” However, there are many kinds of clam chowder, and New England style is just one of them.
Benefits of Clam Chowder
Clams contain Vitamin B which has the ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and keep your central nervous system healthy. Clams are excellent suppliers of iron and that is one of the main reasons why some doctors suggest pregnant women have this soup once in a week. Clams are also rich in selenium and this helps to prevent arthritis. Even though these are all great benefits, what probably led to the popularity of New England clam chowder is simply that it is hearty and rich, and tastes great.
Boston and Maine Fish Company is well known for its delicious choice of seafood varieties. New England clam chowder is our signature dish. We have been using the same recipe for the last 30 years. All the ingredients used in our soup are fresh and prepared daily so come early so you don’t miss out!