Best Steamed Clams Recipes

STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash the clams thoroughly and remove any blemishes. They should have no odor. Heat oil in a large saucepan (with a cover) over medium heat and cook garlic and onion until translucent. Add the wine and let cook for a couple of minutes to combine the flavors. Add the clams and clam juice (or water) and cover the pan for about 10 minutes until the clams open. Discard any clams that do not open and remove clams to serving bowls. Season the juices in the pan with salt and pepper to make a sauce. Pour the sauce and melted butter over the clams.

CHORIZO STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Place large pot over medium heat; add olive oil. Stir in diced onion; cook and stir until onions begin to turn translucent, 3 or 4 minutes. Add chorizo; cook and stir to render some fat, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Pour in white wine.
• Raise heat to high and bring liquid to a boil. Immediately add clams and distribute evenly. Cover and cook until clams open, about 7 minutes. During this time you can occasionally shake the pot to "stir" the clams using potholders or a kitchen towel to hold the pot handles. It's best not to open the lid and stir.
• When clams have opened, remove pot from heat. Stir in butter and parsley; allow butter to melt. Serve clams in heated bowls with lots of the liquid.

DRAWN BUTTER FOR STEAMED LOBSTER, CRABS, OR CLAMS

Steps:

• Place the butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
• Set the saucepan aside and let the butter settle, undisturbed. The milk solids will come to the top of the butter and the watery whey will collect on the bottom. Skim off the milk solids with a spoon and pour the drawn butter into a serving bowl or several small ramekins, taking care not include the watery liquid in the bottom of the pan. Serve.

STEAMED CLAMS IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse the clams in several changes of water and scrub with a small brush, such as a toothbrush. Discard any that are open or that have cracked shells.
• Place the wine in a large, lidded pan that will accommodate all of the clams (a wok with a lid works well). Bring to a boil and reduce by half. Add the clams, cover and cook over high heat, shaking the pan from time to time, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the clams open. Remove from the heat. Discard any clams that have not opened.
• Set a strainer over a bowl, line with cheesecloth and drain the clams. Set the liquid and the clams aside in separate bowls. You can keep the clams in the shell or remove them, whichever is most convenient for serving (it's prettiest with the clams in the shell).
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, wide, lidded skillet or casserole and add the shallots. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 3 minutes, and add the garlic and red pepper flakes or chile de arbol. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute, and add the tomatoes and juice, the sugar, orange zest, thyme, saffron, and the liquid from the clams. Add salt and pepper to taste, bring to a simmer over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture has cooked down and is very fragrant. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Stir the clams into the tomato sauce and heat through, stirring. Add the parsley or cilantro, stir again, and serve in wide soup bowls. Drizzle a little olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice over each serving if you wish

STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Carefully scrub the clams under cold running water to remove sand and grit, then set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large pot set over medium heat, and when it foams, add the chorizo or bacon, and allow it to crisp, stirring occasionally, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add the beer to the pot (use just 1 cup if cooking 50 or fewer clams), and allow to heat through, then carefully add the clams in layers. Cover the pot, and allow the clams to steam and open, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Serve in the pot, or use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove clams to a platter, and serve alongside a bowl of the remaining clam broth and melted butter.

SIMPLE STEAMED CLAMS OR MUSSELS

Steps:

• Put the oil in a saucepan large enough to hold all the clams or mussels over medium heat. When hot, add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, 5 minutes.
• Add the liquid along with the clams or mussels, turn the heat up to high, and cover the pot. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until they all (or nearly all) open, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Scoop the mussels into a serving bowl. Remove as many shallots as you can with a slotted spoon and scatter them on top. Pour or ladle off the accumulated liquid, leaving any sediment in the bottom of the pan, and pour it over the mussels. Garnish with parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.

PORTUGUESE STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash clams well in a sink of cold water. Discard any clams that are already opened.
• In a large stock pot with a tight fitting lid, place the cleaned clams. Add the sausage, onion, tomatoes and wine. Cover and set over high heat. Steam until all the clams open up. Be sure to shake the pan often to insure even heat.
• Drizzle olive oil over the cooked clams. Evenly divide all the ingredients into warm soup plates. Divide the broth into side cups for dipping.

STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Place steamers in a large bowl. Add enough water to cover. Add cornmeal, and stir to thoroughly combined. Let stand for at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours to allow the clams to purge their sand.
• Remove clams from water, and rinse thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large saucepan, combine beer and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add clams, and cook, covered, until the clams have opened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove clams with a slotted spoon, discarding any clams that have not opened or ones with broken shells, to a large bowl. Sprinkle with parsley.
• Strain cooking liquid through a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Serve clams immediately with lemon wedges, hot broth, and melted butter.

STEAMED MUSSELS AND CLAMS

Steps:

• Scrub mussels and clams in cool water. Remove beards from mussels, and discard all broken or opened shells. Remove from water, and refrigerate until needed.
• Heat broiler or grill to medium-high heat. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Place on grill or under broiler for about 30 seconds on each side or until golden. While still hot, rub tops with cut side of garlic clove.
• Place a large stockpot on grill or stove over medium heat. Add butter. When melted and bubbling, add leeks, shallots, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and chile. Saute until leeks and shallots are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add white wine, and salt and pepper to taste; bring to a simmer. Add mussels and clams; cover; cook until shells open, about 7 minutes. Serve in a bowl with the croutons.

GARLIC STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Discard any clams that are not firmly shut.
• Place them in a bowl of cold water and sprinkle the cornmeal on the water, refrigerate for 1 1/2 hrs Drain& scrub the clams again under cold running water.
• Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or other heavy pot that has a firm fitting lid, throw in the garlic and saute for 5 minutes. Turn up the heat and pour in the water & wine.
• Add clams close the lid, steam the clams for about 6 minutes, shake the pot a few times to redistribute the clams- do not remove the lid. Remove the clams with a slotted spoon, discard any clams that did not open Add the parsley, salt& pepper to the broth.
• To serve, place the clams in a shallow bowl & pour the broth over them.

STEAMED CLAMS IN WINE AND CHORIZO

Steps:

• Cook onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, and salt in oil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in wine and bring to a boil.
• Add clams and chorizo, then boil, covered, until clams open, 7 to 8 minutes. (Discard any clams that are not open after 9 minutes.) Season with pepper and stir in cilantro.

STEAMED CLAMS IN GARLIC SAFFRON BROTH

Steps:

• Crumble saffron into 1 cup of boiling water. Set aside to steep.
• Heat olive oil in a large, shallow saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots, and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add wine, and stir to loosen any bits from pan. Add reserved saffron broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and add clams, chopped tomato, and half the chopped parsley. Stir to combine. Cover, and let steam until clams are opened, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and pepper, and serve immediately.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH GARLIC-PARSLEY BUTTER AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Make the garlic butter: Combine butter, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Whiz until bright green and well incorporated, about 1 minute. Season lightly with salt and pepper. (You may make the garlic butter in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 weeks, but it tastes best freshly made.)
• Set a wide, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil and swirl to coat. Add leeks, stir to coat, and cook for 30 seconds, then add clams and wine.
• Turn heat to high, cover and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until all clams have opened. With a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer clams to individual bowls.
• In the same skillet, over medium heat, add lime zest, lime juice and butter, and let simmer briefly, about 30 seconds, until warmed through. Pour sauce over clams, garnish with lime wedges and serve.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH CHORIZO AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a dutch oven heat olive oil over medium heat.
• fry chorizo, onion, garlic, salt and pepper stirring until onion are golden.
• stir in tomatoes and vinegar.
• cook over medium heat until tomatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).
• add clams, cover and bring to a boil.
• cook just until clams open wide (8 to 10 minutes).
• discard any clams that do not open.
• Remove from heat, stir in basil and serve.
• served with crusty bread to sop up sauce.

NEW ENGLAND STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Rinse clams several times in cold, running water. Soak them in salted or seawater with a few handfuls of cornmeal for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse again.
• Fill a steamer with 1-inch cold water, celery and parsley and bring to a boil. Add clams all at once. Bring back to a boil, then cook for about 4 minutes, shaking the pot from time to time, until clams open. (If you wish, cook 3 to 4 minutes longer, to kill off harmful bacteria that may exist.)
• Remove steamers with a spider or a large slotted spoon to serving bowls. Open spigot of steamer and strain broth into small bowls for serving. If your steamer does not have a spigot, ladle broth into bowls, leaving behind any debris. Serve steamers immediately with broth and hot melted butter for dipping.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH BACON, TOMATO, AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to break down and sauce thickens slightly, about 8 minutes.
• Increase heat to moderately high, then add clams and bring to a boil, covered. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams just open wide, about 6 minutes (discard clams that do not open after 10 minutes). Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

WHITE WINE-STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Make the foil packets: Tear off twenty 20-inch-long pieces of heavy-duty foil. For each packet, stack 2 sheets of foil and pull up the edges to form a bowl shape; put about 10 clams in each packet.
• Divide the shallots, garlic and parsley among the packets. Drizzle each with about 3 tablespoons wine and top with 2 tablespoons butter; season with salt and pepper. Gather the edges of the foil at the top and crimp to seal.
• Place the packets on the grill and cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until the clams open. (Discard any unopened clams.) Serve straight from the packet; garnish with thyme.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausages; sauté until almost cooked through, breaking up with fork, about 10 minutes. Add shallots, garlic and dried red pepper. Sauté until sausage is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes with juices, broth and vinegar. Add clams, cover and boil until clams open, about 8 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Mix in basil.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPICY GARLIC BREAD

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.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPRING HERBS

Steps:

• In a medium pot or large straight-sided skillet with a lid, warm oil over medium heat. Add garlic and tarragon. Cook until garlic is slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in clams and cover pot. Cook until clams open, 5 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove clams from pot, dividing them between 2 serving bowls. (Discard any clams that don't open.)
• Stir chives, lime zest and red pepper flakes into the pan sauce and let cook for 20 seconds. Stir in butter and lime juice, whisking until butter melts and sauce thickens slightly.
• Spoon pan juices over clams. Serve immediately.