What Goes With Clam Chowder

Clam chowder comes in New England or Manhattan varieties and remains a staple as a light meal in itself or as the opener to a larger entree. Like many soups, it always benefits from additional foods served with it, from a simple garnish to a full-bore banquet. Clam chowder is fish-based, with milk used in the New England recipe and tomatoes used in the Manhattan recipe. That makes a difference as to the best food to serve with it, though many dishes work equally well with both.

New England Style

New England style clam chowder (also known as Boston clam chowder) goes well with vegetables; an ear of corn or a serving of asparagus make outstanding garnishes. Many people like serving cornbread with New England clam chowder as well. Tuna fish sandwiches make a good lunchtime combo, as do green leafy salads on the side. For a more refined touch, include cucumber sandwiches on whole wheat bread. As a fish-based meal, it goes well with a glass of white wine.

Manhattan Style

Manhattan clam chowder originated in Rhode Island when Italian and Portuguese immigrants began substituting tomatoes for milk in the recipes. The use of tomatoes in Manhattan chowder makes it especially good with cheese-based dishes. A grilled cheese sandwich makes an excellent side dish, as does a cold sandwich with cheese or grated cheese to sprinkle on top. Additional tomatoes are not out of line either; sliced and placed on a sandwich, or just sprinkled on top of the soup. Like New England clam chowder, Manhattan style works well with white wine, though the tomato content means red wine isn't out of place either.

Both

Fannie Farmer recommends serving both types of clam chowder with bits of bacon or pork. As a fish-based meal, clam chowder goes well with other types of fish. If you're serving the soup as an appetizer, you can accompany it with any fish entree, from snapper to sole. If the chowder is the centerpiece of the meal, start with a shrimp cocktail or shrimp salad before serving the soup. Baked potatoes and similar potato-based dishes are often appropriate. And both forms of clam chowder go great with sourdough bread. Many traditional recipes call for a sourdough bowl in which to place the chowder, but you can use sliced bread or rolls just as easily. French bread works well too, as do saltine crackers and soup crackers.

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