STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPICY GARLIC BREAD

Steamed Clams with Spicy Garlic Bread image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Time 50m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces andouille or smoked sausage, sliced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon salted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 pound clams, shells scrubbed
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 sprigs lemon thyme or thyme, leaves stripped
Spicy Garlic Bread, recipe follows
One 12-ounce loaf French bread
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Pinch kosher salt

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels, reserving the drippings in the skillet. Place the sausage in a large serving bowl.
Add the shallots to the skillet; cook, stirring often, until translucent and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add the wine, stirring and scraping to loosen the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the coconut milk, butter, salt, pepper, ginger and turmeric. Add the clams, cover the skillet, and steam until the clams open, 6 to 7 minutes.
Transfer the clams to the bowl with the sausage. Stir the lime juice into the broth and pour over the clams and sausage. Sprinkle with the lemon thyme.
Serve immediately with Spicy Garlic Bread.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the bread in half lengthwise through the top of the loaf without cutting all the way through to the bottom. Cut the bread crosswise into 1-inch slices without cutting all the way through to the bottom.
Stir together the butter, garlic, crushed red pepper and salt. Spread over the bread and between the slices.
Place the loaf on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve warm.