Clam Chowder is a thick, delicious, and hearty soup, with the soft potatoes and the juicy clam working together to create a truly satisfying soup that can almost be a meal all on its own. A nice dish of New England clam chowder can be enhanced when served alongside the right side dish.
Side Dish #1: Buttery Bread Rolls
When it comes to enjoying a bowl of New England clam chowder, you need some bread to go with it. Some soft and buttery bread rolls are the perfect bread to go with your bowl of soup. You can dip the bread in the chowder and soak up the thick, creamy base of the soup.
Side Dish #2: Roasted Vegetables
Some roasted vegetables can be the perfect side dish. They are flavorful, but the flavor is subtle enough not to overwhelm your clam chowder.
Roast up some veggies such as carrots, asparagus, beets, fennel, artichokes, and even mushrooms. Roast them until they have a nice caramelized flavor to them, and even a little char. The deep flavors will balance out the creaminess of the chowder.
Side Dish #3: Corn on the Cob
If you are serving clam chowder in the summertime, consider serving it with some corn on the cob. You can grill the corn on the cob, roast it, or even bake it. The juicy sweetness will complement the thick creaminess of your chowder.
Side Dish #4: French Fries
Clam chowder may already have potatoes in it, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy more delicious potatoes in the form of some crispy French fries, which will add some crunch and saltiness to your dish.
Side Dish #5: Bacon
There is no denying that bacon goes with just about anything. You can eat the bacon on top of the clam chowder, or you can enjoy it as a crispy side dish. In either case, it will offer an outstanding umami balance to your chowder.
Or you can add bacon to something else. For example, some bacon-wrapped scallops are both salty and savory and provide a nice texture balance to your chowder.
Side Dish #6: Salad
There are a wide variety of salads that go well with clam chowder. You want to choose a salad with a distinct texture and flavor profile to go with your chowder. For example, a cucumber salad, a bean salad, or a watermelon salad are three great salad options. You want to go with a salad that isn't a basic side salad but has its own distinct flavor profile.
Add a little side dish to your clam chowder for a full, flavorful meal. You can't go wrong with buttery bread rolls, roasted vegetables, corn on the cob, French fries, bacon, or a savory salad. Contact a company that sells products like 1 quart premade New England clam chowder soup for more ideas.