Step 1

In a pan large enough to hold the clams, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add clams and cover the pot. Cook over medium high heat for 7-9 minutes until they pop open (5-6 minutes if using little necks). If any clams don’t open, discard. Remove clams from broth and transfer to a sheet tray. Reserve the broth. Strain broth through a fine sieve lined with a coffee filter or cheese cloth. Strain a few times to remove all traces of sand.

Step 2

If broth is more than three cups, boil down to three cups to intensify flavor.

Step 3

Remove the clams from the shells. With a sharp knife, separate the belly and cut the rest of the meat into bite sized pieces. Then split the bellies lengthwise and scrape out and discard the contents. Cut bellies and add to the reserved chopped clams. Discard shells.

Step 4

If using little necks instead of cherrystones, after cooking lay the shelled clam on your cutting board and press a small knife across the belly to squeeze out the belly contents. The meat can be left whole.

Step 5

In a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, cook diced salt pork and bacon until rendered and slightly browned, about 5-10 minutes. Add butter and melt.

Step 6

Add celery, onions, garlic and half the potatoes and cook for about ten minutes or until onions are translucent. Stir often. Add flour and cook for another minute.

Step 7

Add 3 cups of reserved broth, the rest of the potatoes, thyme and bay leaf and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Step 8

Once potatoes are tender, remove the pot from the heat, discard bay leaf and add chopped clams and cream. (If you are making this ahead of time, do not add the cream until you are ready to heat and serve.)

Step 9

Season chowder with pepper as needed and heat to serving temperature. Depending on how briny the clams are and since this recipe used salt pork, you may not need to put in additional salt.

Step 10

Serve with a dollop of butter over each portion and oyster crackers on the side.