Keto New England Clam Chowder. I learned to make Clam Chowder 45 years ago (my, my how time flies) from “Chef Bob” who was of course from Boston. There are (were) two secrets. One is using salt pork (not bacon) and the other is the addition of thyme. My only change from the original is that I have cut out the potatoes and flour and use pureed cauliflower to thicken and used daikon radish rather than potatoes. Sadly, unless perhaps from a restaurant supply house you can no longer get real salt pork anymore. Oh, for sure if you lived in North Carolina or a couple other southern states but not here in Portland town. The crap in the grocery stores is just that, crap-not cured with salt anymore and as much as I have said salt pork has always been a key ingredient, I too now have to resort to bacon. Now, I do have access to fabulous bacon so, at least half the battle is won in the making of this fabulous keto New England Clam Chowder.
All my many other Keto~LowCarb Daikon Or Red Radishes As Potatoes Recipes may be seen here.
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- ½ Lb Double Smoked Thick Sliced Bacon If Possible. Mine Is 8 Slices Per Lb
- 2-3 C Daikon Radish Cut Into Wedges
- 1 C Onion ¼” Dice
- 6 Cans Chopped Clams (Including Juice)
- ¼ t Dried Thyme (Slightly More To Taste)
- 2 C Water
- 2 C Heavy Cream
- 2-3 t Chicken Base Paste (I use a premium chicken base made by R L Schreiber)
- 1-2 C Cooked & Puréed Cauliflower (This Is Your Thickener)
- Fresh Pepper to Taste
- Correct Seasoning When Finished
- Cut & cook daikon radish about 30 minutes (until tender) in 2 C water.
- Dice bacon into ¼” pieces. This is pretty small and the easiest way to do it is to have the bacon partially frozen. Sauté on medium low until very crispy. Should take about 15-20 minutes. Remove bacon and retain half the fat.
- Sauté onions in remaining fat until translucent.
- Put the thyme in the palm of your hand, crush it, and add to onions.
- Add clams & juice.
- Add diakon radish, remaining water, heavy cream, ½ of the crispy bacon and bring to simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in puréed cauliflower to thickness desired.
- Correct seasoning to taste.
- Put soup in bowl and sprinkle on rest of bacon.
- If you have any leftover soup just add the rest of the bacon lardons.
- 6 Servings
- 403 Calories, 5.2g Protein, 36.3g Fat, 6.2g Carbs, 1.7g Fiber, 4.5g Net Carbs
- If you have bottled clam juice all the better and you can sub it for some or all of the water.
- New England clam chowder does NOT have celery in it. Celery, carrots, and the Lord forbid corn, are all extenders and they do not add to the flavor. The key word is CLAM-not celery.