Clam Chowder

part of: Clam

New England clam chowder is one of the most recognised soups in American cuisine — a rich, creamy broth loaded with tender clam pieces, diced potato, and onion. It is distinguished from other chowder styles by its white, dairy-based broth rather than a tomato or clear base.

While clam chowder is not a traditional Australian dish, canned ready-to-serve versions are available in supermarkets and offer a convenient meal. The canned product is fully cooked and simply needs to be heated through.

A good chowder balances the briny sweetness of the clams against the richness of the cream and the starchy body of the potatoes. Canned versions vary in quality, but the best ones deliver genuine clam flavour and a satisfying thickness.

Wild & Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Clams are shucked and chopped, then cooked with diced potatoes, onions, and celery in a base of cream or milk thickened with flour or starch. The finished chowder is filled into cans and heat-sterilised in a retort to make it shelf-stable and ready to serve after reheating.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 79kcal
Protein 2.6g
Carbs 7.3g
Fat 3.9g
Fibre 1g Sugar 0.2g
Mass Distribution

1 can is about 521 g — roughly 410 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈118.75kg
Freshwater ≈35150.75L
Land ≈30.75

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from

In the kitchen

Used as

creamy shellfish chowder

Goes well with
Classic dishes
  • New England Clam Chowder
  • Clam Chowder Bread Bowl

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Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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