Skip to main content
Epicurious
Cookbooks

Mussel Chowder With Bacon, Leek, and Lime

Mussel chowder in a pot and bowl.
Photo by Nicole Franzen

This is the quinetessential soup of the place I call home, and it’s one that I crave year-round. There is little that is more comforting than a bubbling pot of chowder on the woodstove, with a creamy mugful in hand—it somehow makes the shorter days of winter feel longer and lighter. But this mussel chowder is equally well suited for summertime, given its straight-from-the-ocean brine that gets a lift from fresh lime and cilantro.

This recipe was excerpted from ‘Big Heart Little Stove' by Erin French. Buy the full book on Amazon.

What you’ll need

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Beef Stroganoff Ramen
This traditional dish of beef, sour cream, and mustard may have originated in Russia, but it’s about time for a version with ramen noodles, don’t you think?
Sofrito Bolognese
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.
Frijoles de la Olla Ramen (Mexican Stewed Beans)
Traditionally, this Mexican staple is simmered for hours in an olla, or clay pot. You can achieve a similar result by using canned beans and instant ramen.
Our Favorite French Onion Soup
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.
Tortellini in Preserved Lemon Brodo
A quick-fix dinner thanks to store-bought tortellini and chicken broth.
XO Sauce
Developed in the 1980s by a chef in Hong Kong, this sauce is all about umami.
Skillet Gnocchi With Leeks and Bacon
An elegant, satisfying dinner in under 30 minutes.
Crispy Baked Wings With Berbere Honey Glaze and Fried Garlic
Berbere is a spicy chile blend that has floral and sweet notes from coriander and cardamom, and when it’s paired with a honey glaze, it sets these wings apart from anything else you’ve ever had.