Boston and New England Recipes

Authentic recipes for Boston and New England cuisine

These easy Boston and New England recipes will let you enjoy regional flavors straight from your own kitchen.  Enjoy a taste of Boston and the New England coast - wherever you happen to be!

With these recipes, you can easily make authentic New England clam chowder, Boston cream pie, lobster roll, and other traditional dishes.   Plus, you can re-create contemporary favorites that you'll enjoy in local Boston restaurants . . . Italian marinara sauce, grilled swordfish, French olive bread, and more.  I've even included instructions about how to eat lobster (without making a huge mess).

I use all of these Boston and New England recipes myself - and that means they're quick, easy, and virtually foolproof.  Their flavor relies on healthy, fresh ingredients that you can buy locally at Haymarket, South End specialty markets, ethnic markets, farmers' markets, and other neighborhood spots.

You can easily make them too!   

New England Clam Chowder Recipe

Photo of New England Clam Chowder

Almost every restaurant in Boston serves New England clam chowder, a creamy soup ideally made with fresh clams and local potatoes.

To enjoy a taste of Boston with minimal effort, make this easy New England clam chowder recipe.  On a cold winter day, a bowl of chowder can be a meal.  And in the summer, have a cup as part of a New England shore dinner. 

My traditional New England clam chowder recipe is so fast and easy that you'll want to make it year-round. 

Boston Cream Pie Recipe

Here's how my Boston Cream Pie recipe looks after it's made

Boston cream pie, first created by a French chef for the opening of the city's Parker House Hotel in 1856, is the official Massachusetts state dessert and a huge local favorite. 

You'll be surprised by how easy this Boston cream pie recipe is to put together . . . and your family and friends will beg you to make it again and again.  

Boston Baked Beans Recipe

Boston Baked Beans, just out of the over

Boston is called "Beantown" for good reason.  Ever since the Colonial days when Boston was part of the Triangular trade in molasses, rum, and slaves, molasses has found its way into the local cuisine.  Beans baked with molasses and salt pork became synonymous with Boston cuisine. 

This baked beans recipe recipe is delicious, easy, and reasonably authentic.  It's a favorite Boston and New England recipe.

Lobster Roll Recipe

Photos of my own lobster rolls, ready to serve for dinner - wish I had one right now!

Lobster rolls represent summer in New England.   The best ones feature chunks of lobster overflowing the roll and contain only minimal other ingredients, so that nothing interferes with the fabulous taste of lobster.

This lobster roll recipe tells you how to make this treat.  Nothing could be simpler - or more delicious!

How to Eat Lobster

Eating a whole boiled or steamed lobster is easier than you think

Whether you're dining on a whole lobster in a fancy Boston seafood restaurant or enjoying one at home with family and friends, the red-shelled creature on your plate can look intimidating if you don't know how to tackle it. 

You'll want to check out these detailed instructions for how to eat lobster. 

How to Boil Lobster . . . and How to Steam Lobster

Steaming or boiling a lobster is one of the easiest things you can do

If you're going to make lobster rolls or eat a whole lobster at home, you'll need to know how to cook it.  This usually means putting it into a pot and boiling it or steaming it.  Each method hof cooking lobster has its fans, so I'll tell you how to both.   You can try each one, and decide which method you like the best.

Here are easy-to-follow directions for how to boil lobster and how to steam lobster.

Olive Bread Recipe

This olive bread, or fougasse, makes a perfect appetizer - so delicious!

Ever since Todd English started serving olive bread at his flagship Charlestown restaurant, Bostonians have been crazy about this Provencal treat.

With this olive bread recipe straight from the French Riviera, you can make your own loaves of this new Boston favorite.

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce Recipe

If you're a fan of Boston Italian restaurants in the North End and across the city, you know that a great marinara success is at the heart of this cuisine.

With this delicious marinara sauce recipe, you can make your own homemade tomato sauce for a taste of Boston right in your own kitchen.  Serve it with pasta for a great meal summer or winter. 

Basil Pesto Recipe

Photo of Basil Pesto - you can make this in about 1 minute

Pesto appears in many forms in Boston's Italian and French Mediterranean restaurants.   This basil pesto recipe gives extra flavor to marinara sauce.

You can also add a dollop of this delicious basil pesto to other Boston and New England recipes such as grilled swordfish to add a contemporary zest.

Grilled Swordfish Recipe

Grilled swordfish - perfect for easy summer dinners (winter, too!)

Local fish, fresh off the dock, are one of the biggest New England seafood treats. Lots of local restaurants feature swordfish steaks - in fact, they're almost as popular as beef in Boston steakhouses. 

Happily, swordfish is very easy to prepare at home, and is especially delicious when cooked on a grill.  This grilled swordfish recipe describes how to prepare this treat from the sea.  This is one of the easiest Boston and New England recipes, and one that you'll want to make again and again.