Clams With Pancetta And Scallions Recipes

CLAM TOASTS WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium. Add pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crisp, 5-7 minutes. Add sliced garlic and cook, stirring often, until garlic is golden around the edges, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and add sweet onion and chopped fennel. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and onion is translucent, 6-8 minutes. Add lemon zest, bay leaf, ground fennel,1/2 cup wine and a pinch of salt. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until wine is mostly reduced but mixture is still a little bit saucy, about 3 minutes. Transfer soffritto to a medium bowl; discard lemon zest and bay leaf. Wipe out skillet.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in same skillet over medium. Arrange bread slices in skillet and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Cut 1 garlic clove in half and rub one side of each toast with cut side of garlic. Wipe out skillet.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in same skillet over medium. Crush remaining garlic clove with the side of a chef's knife and cook, stirring often, until it begins to turn golden, about 1 minute. Add clams, soffritto, and remaining 1/2 cup wine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until liquid is reduced by half and clams are open (discard any that do not open), 5-7 minutes. Add parsley and fennel fronds and cook 1 minute longer. Taste and season with salt if needed.
• To serve, place fried bread on plates and spoon clam mixture and cooking broth over. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
• Do Ahead
• Soffritto can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

CLAMS WITH PANCETTA AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook 3 minutes, until golden brown. Add scallions, clams and the vermouth (if using) and simmer 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 5 to 7 minutes, until shells open. Discard any shells that do not open.
• With a slotted spoon, remove clams from pan and set aside. Simmer 2 minutes until sauce thickens. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Serve 1/2 of the clams (24 to 36) over rice and cover with thickened sauce. Top with parsley and serve with the Garlic Toast. Reserve the remaining clams (about 2 dozen) for fettuccine, if desired.
• Cut the baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and drizzle some olive oil over them. Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden and crispy. While still warm, rub the garlic clove on the toasts.

CASSEROLE OF CLAMS AND CHINESE SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Rinse the clams and drain well. Prepare the pepper strips and set aside.
• Cut each sausage on the bias into quarter-inch-thick slices. There should be about one-half cup.
• Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a heavy casserole and add the sausage, garlic and half the scallions. Cook, stirring, about one minute and add the wine and clam juice. Cook over moderately high heat about two minutes or until the liquid is reduced to about one and a third cups. Add the clams and pepper strips. Cover closely and cook three to five minutes. As each clam opens up, remove it. If the cooking liquid has evaporated excessively, add a bit of water. Swirl in the remaining butter. Put the clams in a shallow serving dish and pour the sauce over all. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions.