Corn Chowder With Littleneck Clams And Jalapeño Cream

Prepare the chowder: In a large saucepan, bring the chicken stock and white wine to a boil with the garlic and thyme. Add the clams, bring back to a boil, cover, and steam until the clams are just opened, 3 to 4 minutes. Strain the liquid into a bowl and discard any unopened clams. Remove the clams from their shells and set aside.

In a 3-quart saucepan, melt the butter. Saute the onion, leek, carrot, and celery over medium heat, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Pour in the clam liquid and bring to a boil. Add the corncobs and the corn kernels, reserving 1 cup kernels for garnish. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the cobs and strain the soup into a clean saucepan. Transfer the strained vegetables to a blender or food processor, pour in the cream, and process until pureed, still retaining a little texture. Stir back into the soup and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, add the reserved clams, and simmer for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Meanwhile, prepare the jalapeño cream: In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle the soup into heated bowls, making sure that there are clams in each bowl. Spoon a little of the jalapeño cream in the center, passing the remaining cream in a small bowl. Garnish with the reserved 1 cup corn kernels and serve immediately.

This recipe yields 6 to 8 servings.