Lobster soup has a way of turning a regular evening into something memorable. It smells like the coast, tastes rich without needing much, and gives home cooks a smart way to use every part of the lobster, especially the shells.

A great clam soup tastes like the sea without tasting muddy, fishy, or flat. The difference usually comes down to three choices: how the clams are cleaned, when they are cooked, and what seasonings surround them.