Manhattan Clam Chowder I

By RecipeLot

Manhattan clam chowder is a soup traditionally made from clams, herbs, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Despite its name, it originated in Rhode Island, not Manhattan. Clam chowder, in its cream-based, New England version, has existed since the mid-18th Century, and no mention of any Manhattan chowder has been found that predates the 1930s. Many restaurants in northern Rhode Island sell both red and white chowders, while the US southern coast favors clear and white chowders. Often they are served alongside clam cakes. According to Alton Brown, who pointed this out in the installment of his program Good Eats titled "Send In The Clams," the use of tomatoes instead of milk was initially the work of Portuguese immigrants in Rhode Island, as tomato-based stews were already a traditional part of Portuguese cuisine. New Englanders called this modified version Manhattan-style clam chowder as a pejorative because, in their snide view, calling someone a New Yorker was an insult.

• Cooking time: 90 minutes
• Servings: 6