Crumb Topped Clams Recipes

CHOPPED BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in heated oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, making sure not to brown the garlic. Stir in the clams, thyme, and oregano. Remove from heat and stir in the beaten egg. Once combined, mix in breadcrumbs and spoon mixture into 4 ramekins; arrange on a baking sheet. Drizzle butter over each ramekin.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash the clams very well. Put them, the clam juice, water and vermouth in a big pot with a cover. Cook them over very high heat, bringing them to a boil, until they are just cooked, removing them one by one, or by the few, to a roasting pan or other flat tray, with tongs or a hand-held sieve, the instant they pop open.
• Once they've cooled, remove the clams from the shells. Divide top and bottom shells. Wash as many as you plan to serve, and leave them to dry. Add any liquid left with the clams to the liquid in the clam pot.
• Sauté the cup of garlic, leeks, celery and fennel in 3 tablespoons of butter, adding only the tiniest, barest bit of salt to help the vegetables release their liquid. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until leeks are tender and taste good. Through a fine strainer, add all the liquid in the clam pot. Bring to a boil, and cook down until only about 1 cup of liquid remains. Add the heavy cream. Taste for salt. Add the chopped leaves and chervil and the clams, either whole or roughly chopped.
• Divide the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 24 small squares. If it seems difficult, use more butter. No precision needed. Fill each half clamshell very full with the clam mixture - with either 1 clam per shell, if left whole, or a spoonful, if chopped. Top each half with a sprinkle of bread crumbs and a tiny square of butter.
• Put in a single layer, in 1 or 2 large roasting or baking pans, under the broiler at its highest setting, quite close to the broiler. Serve hot.

FRESH BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Put clams in a large kettle or clam pot with the water; cook over moderate heat, just until the shells open.
• Remove from the heat and when cool enough to handle, pluck the whole clams from the shells; save half the shells.
• Meanwhile, blend together the butter, garlic, parsley and bread crumbs.
• Set each clam back into a half shell and spread about a teaspoon of the mixture atop each clam in a shell.
• Arrange filled shells in a baking dish and broil 4" from the heat source until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

CRUMB-TOPPED CLAMS

Steps:

• Spread salt into an ovenproof metal serving platter or a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Shuck clams, leaving clams and juices in bottom shells. Arrange in prepared platter; divide juices among shells., In a small bowl, mix dry bread crumbs, chicken broth, parsley, oil, garlic, oregano and pepper; spoon over clams. Sprinkle with panko bread crumbs., Broil 4-6 in. from heat 6-8 minutes or until clams are firm and crumb mixture is crisp and golden brown. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

BAKED CLAMS OREGANATE

Steps:

• BREAD CRUMBS: Unless you make your own bread crumbs, you won't be following Rao's kitchen tradition. Use the finest quality Italian bread you can find. Allow it to dry for at least 2 days, then grate, using a handheld grater or a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Shake and push the bread crumbs through a medium strainer to get an even texture.
• BAKED CLAMS: Have your fishmonger open your clams if you are not comfortable doing the job yourself. Leave the clams on the half shell and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Place broiler tray on the lowest rack and preheat broiler. Combine bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper. Add olive oil and toss mixture until crumbs are evenly coated. Add the broth and continue to mix until very well blended. The mixture should be quite wet.
• Put approximately 1 heaping teaspoon of bread crumb mixture on each clam. Smooth over the top, making sure that the edges are sealed. Using the edge of a teaspoon, cut ridges into the topping. Pour 1/8-inch cold water into a cookie sheet with sides (to keep the clams moist while broiling) and broil for about 7 minutes or until the bread crumb topping is well browned and crisp.
• Put 6 clams on each of 6 small, warm serving plates. Garnish each plate with 1 lemon wedge and parsley sprig and serve.

STUFFED CLAMS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in microwave oven or on stove top. Let cool and crumble into medium bowl. Add onion, parsley and bread crumbs. Chop up clams and add to breadcrumb mixture. Moisten with reserved clam liquor. Season with salt, pepper, squirt of lemon and a dash of Tabasco sauce. Fill clam shells with mixture and place in a baking dish. Top clams with dots of butter and more bread crumbs. Broil until browned. Serve.

STUFFED CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place clams in a large pot with water. Cover and cook over high heat until clams open, about 10 minutes. Remove from shells, there should be about 1 cup of clams. Reserve 24 shells for stuffing (you may not need all 24).
• Process clams briefly in a food processor. Do not overprocess or the clams will become liquid. You could also finely chop the clams by hand.
• Combine clams, butter, shallots, garlic, parsley, basil, bread crumbs, 6 tablespoons cheese, wine, prosciutto, pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Stuff shells with mixture and smooth top. Sprinkle remaining parmesan over top of clams and arrange them in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with olive oil.
• Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Run clams under broiler briefly for a final glaze.

PETER LO CASCIO'S BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place clams in a 4-quart pot and add 1 cup white wine or water; cover and cook over medium-high heat until clams have opened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool.
• Meanwhile, rinse spinach with cold water; shake to remove excess water but do not pat dry. Place spinach in a medium saucepan; cover and cook over medium heat until spinach is wilted, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover, stir, and cover again; continue cooking 2 minutes more. Drain and let cool slightly. Squeeze spinach to remove excess moisture; chop and set aside.
• Remove clams from shells, reserving shells and discarding any clams that remain unopened. Finely chop clams; you should have about 1 1/2 cups. Set aside. Line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth and set over a medium bowl; strain clam cooking liquid into bowl and set aside 1/2 cup. Reserve any remaining liquid for another use.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and celery; cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add remaining 3 tablespoons wine and bring to a simmer; cook until liquid is almost evaporated. Add reserved spinach and clams; stir to combine.
• Cut remaining 8 tablespoons butter into pieces and add to skillet along with parsley, tarragon, chives, breadcrumbs, reserved clam juice, and anise. Add egg yolk and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Fill reserved clam shells with clam mixture; transfer shells to a baking sheet and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until filling is hot, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine bread crumbs, pine nuts, and garlic on a baking sheet.
• Toast in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add clams, cover, and steam until open, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer toasted bread crumb mixture to a large bowl. Add basil and tomatoes and mix to combine. Toss clams in the bread crumb mixture and serve immediately.

STUFFED CLAMS

Steps:

• Rinse the clams, and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl combine the bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. If salt is used, use a small amount because the clams themselves are salty.
• Open the clams or have them opened at the seafood shop. If desired, you may cut the meat of each clam in half and fill each half of the shell. Or you may leave the clams whole and fill only half the shells. Sprinkle the clams with equal portions of the bread-crumb mixture.
• Preheat the broiler to high. Place the clams under it, about four or five inches from the source of heat. Broil the clams for 1 to 2 minutes or until the crumbs are golden brown on top.