--- title: "Meatless Friday: New England Clam Chowder" description: When your Meatless Friday dinner is that old standby, grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, this hearty chowder is a delicious alternative! image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/04/03/meatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: New England Clam Chowder Apr 3, 2015 8:00:53 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg)     Every Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in my house, it's the same. For dinner, we follow a custom from my husband's childhood: grilled cheese sandwiches and soup for dinner. He likes tomato soup, but none of the rest of us are big fans, so we've switched to clam chowder.   [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/clam-chowder-NE-from-Flickr-800x516.jpg?width=600&name=clam-chowder-NE-from-Flickr-800x516.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/clam-chowder-NE-from-Flickr.jpg)   While Campbell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder is pretty good, I like to DIY in the kitchen. If I have the time, I make this soup instead of opening a can. This is some good soup! The original recipe is from a church cookbook from a church in Providence, RI where my uncle was once stationed. He sent all 5 of his nieces and nephews a copy of this cookbook. My brother, who's a terrific cook, gave me a few hints on tweaking the recipe and I added a touch of my own as well. And you don't need any heavy cream to make this! ## New England Clam Chowder 6 ribs celery, cut thin 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped 2 TBL butter 6 cups vegetable stock (or fish stock if you have it) black pepper to taste 1/2 tsp thyme 5 or 6 potatoes, diced (I didn't peel them before dicing, just washed them well) 3 cans (6.5 oz each) minced clams, drained, juice reserved 1 package Louis Kemp imitation crab, sliced 1 stick butter 6 TBL flour 1 qt milk 3 TBL cornstarch 1/4 cup ice water Saute celery & onions in 2 TBL butter for 10 minutes over medium heat. Don't allow to brown. In large soup pot, add celery & onions to stock. Add clam juice, pepper and thyme. Bring to a heavy simmer. Add potatoes and simmer until the potatoes are cooked but still firm. Melt the stick of butter and blend with flour. Add this roux to 1 qt. hot milk, off the heat. Stir and return to the burner, stirring until thickened to make a bechamel sauce. Add drained clams, imitation crab and the bechamel to the soup. Stir and simmer 10 minutes. Make a slurry with the cornstarch and ice water and add to the soup. Bring to a boil and stir until soup thickens. Lower the heat and simmer until ready to serve. Yield: 10 servings. Don't forget the little oyster crackers to put on top! [![LABEL New England Clam Chowder 10 servings](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LABEL-New-England-Clam-Chowder-10-servings.png?width=277&height=340&name=LABEL-New-England-Clam-Chowder-10-servings.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LABEL-New-England-Clam-Chowder-10-servings.png) **[You can find all our Meatless Friday featured recipes here](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday/).** *Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz. * *Photo copyright 2008 CQ, "Montauk Clam Chowder," on [Flickr](https://flic.kr/p/4xptbg)* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F03%2Fmeatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F03%2Fmeatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F03%2Fmeatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20New%20England%20Clam%20Chowder) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F03%2Fmeatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F03%2Fmeatless-friday-new-england-clam-chowder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: 3-Bean Chili Mac Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/05/meatless-friday-3-bean-chili-mac) [ The Perfect Christmas Pageant Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/10/the-perfect-christmas-pageant) [ Meatless Friday: Burrito Bowls Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/10/07/meatless-friday-burrito-bowls) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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