Best New England Deep Fried Clams Recipes

FRIED CLAMS WITH TARTAR AND COCKTAIL SAUCES

Steps:

• Combine the corn flour, all-purpose flour, seafood seasoning, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk together the milk and egg in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Add enough oil to a heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer to reach 4 inches up the sides. Heat the oil to 365 degrees F and line a sheet tray with paper towels.
• Dip the clams in the milk, then into the seasoned flour. Add 8 to 10 clams to the oil at a time and fry in batches until they are crispy and golden brown, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the clams to the lined sheet tray. Continue frying the remaining clams.
• Sprinkle the clams with salt and pepper and transfer to a platter. Serve with the Tartar and Cocktail sauces and lemon wedges.
• Stir together the mayonnaise, relish, dill, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Stir together the ketchup, chile paste, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and refrigerate until serving, or up to 1 week.

NEW ENGLAND DEEP FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• Beat egg white until stiff.
• Add milk, salt, and melted butter to egg yolk and beat together.
• Add flour and stir.
• Fold into stiffly beaten egg white.
• Drain clams and dip each into batter and fry in deep fat at 375F until golden.
• Drain on paper towels.

LINDA'S NEW ENGLAND FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to its lowest setting.
• Line a lg. cookie sheet with double thickness of paper towels, and place it in the oven.
• Pour vegetable oil into a deep fryer, or a lg. heavy saucepan, to a depth of about 3".
• Heat oil to 375°F.
• In a bowl, beat the eggs until well blended, then stir in the milk and salt.
• Spread the flour on a lg. strip of wax paper.
• Drop the clams into the egg-milk mixture, and let them soak for 1 minute.
• Pick up a handful of the soaked clams, and roll them in the flour until well coated. Shake off any excess flour before dropping in the oil.
• Immediately drop the floured clams into the hot oil, and deep-fry for 1-2 mins., until golden brown.
• As they brown, transfer them to the towel-lined pan, and keep them warm in the oven, while the rest are cooking.
• Serve with lemon wedges, tarter sauce, and ketchup.

FRIED IPSWICH WHOLE BELLY CLAMS WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set up for what we call "standard breading procedure": Put the flour in a shallow bowl; put the eggs in a second shallow bowl and beat them with a fork; put the cracker meal, bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Old Bay in a third shallow bowl and whisk to combine.
• Spread the clams out on several layers of paper towels and blot them as dry as possible.
• Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 360°F.
• Toss the clams in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip the clams into the egg, coating them completely. Lift them out by the handful and let any excess egg drip off, then put the clams into the breading mixture and toss to coat them completely. Keep one hand dry and use the other hand for wet. Transfer to the baking sheet. If the breading begins to clump, put it through a coarse sieve.
• Fry the clams in small batches-crowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil and the clams will come out greasy-until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
• Pile the clams on 4 dinner plates and serve with individual bowls of tartar sauce-and some fries.

FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine 3/4 cup cornmeal and 1/4 cup flour with the water, forming a batter. In another bowl, combine the remaining cornmeal and flour., Dip clams in batter; shake off excess. Coat with cornmeal mixture., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry clams, a few at a time, for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with salt. , Serve immediately with sauce if desired.