Clam Chowder Tart

Ingredients

• 1 tart shell , 9 inch
• 48 small soft-shell clams
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup light cream
• 0.25 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.13 teaspoons white pepper
• 4 slices bacon
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

Instructions

1. 1

   Place oven rack on highest level. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Set prebaked tart shell on a baking sheet (see Editor's Note).

2. 2

   Chop the clams finely, and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid. Beat the eggs well, and add clam liquid, cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth, and stir in the clams.

3. 3

   Fry the bacon over moderate heat until crisp, and then remove from pan and set aside. Leave about half a tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan, and add onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. clam mixture. Crumble the bacon into mixture, then pour into mixture into pastry shell.

4. 4

   Crumble the bacon into the tart shell; add onion. Carefully pour custard into shell and transfer to preheated oven.

5. 5

   Bake on the top rack until center is set, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Serve hot or warm.