Fried Soft Shell Clams Recipes

FRIED IPSWICH CLAMS WITH FRIED LEMONS

Steps:

• Put the lemon slices on a tray and sprinkle both sides with salt and sugar. Transfer the slices to a rack and place in a dry area for 3 hours so the lemons can dehydrate. Rinse well in cold water and pat dry. Set aside.
• Shuck the clams if you have purchased them in the shell. Slide an oyster knife into the unhinged side of each clam, carefully prying open the shells. Slice the knife around the margin of the clam meat, scraping the bottom of the shell to loosen the clam in 1 piece. Discard the shells. Slip off and discard the black sheath surrounding the siphon (the small "neck"). Rinse the shucked clams in running cold water.
• Heat the peanut oil to 350 degrees F in a deep pot. Stir together the flour, salt, and peppers in a mixing bowl. Pour the buttermilk into a second, shallow bowl.
• Fry the lemon slices first: dip each slice into the buttermilk and then into the seasoned flour. Fry the slices in small batches until they just turn golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a tray lined with paper towels. The lemons can be fried 1 hour in advance and kept in a warm oven.
• Remove any of the cooked lemon particles from the oil using a small metal strainer or a long-handled slotted spoon.
• Dip each clam into the buttermilk and then into the seasoned flour. Place them in the hot oil individually (they tend to clump together). Cook in batches until crispy and brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the oil and transfer to a tray lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange the clams on a warm tray with a bowl of Tartar Sauce and the fried lemons.
• Combine the yolk, egg, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, sugar, and salt and pepper, to taste, in the bowl of a food processor. Process for 30 seconds. With the machine running, add a thin, steady stream of oil until the mayonnaise is emulsified (smooth, thick and creamy). Fold in the remaining ingredients, taste, and adjust the seasonings.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and pepper; place on a dinner plate. Dredge 2 soft-shell crabs in flour mixture, shaking off excess (make sure crabs are completely coated).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. The oil should be very hot but not smoking. Place flour-coated crabs, back side down, in sauté pan; reduce heat to medium if pan starts to smoke. Sauté crabs until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes (do not stand too close to pan; crabs tend to spatter during cooking). Turn crabs over, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add 1 tablespoon butter and a large pinch of parsley to skillet. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over crabs. Keep warm in a low oven. Repeat process until all the crabs are cooked.

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.

BATTERED FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl mix milk, egg yolk, butter, and salt. Sift the flour into the milk mixture stir until smooth. In a small chilled bowl beat the egg white with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. (For best results: refrigerate the bowl, mixer blade and egg white prior to mixing) Fold the beaten egg white into the milk mixture.
• In a large saucepan or deep fat fryer heat oil to 375'. Poke each clam with fork. Dip clams into the batter. Fry a few at a time around 1-1/2 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Remove with slotted spoon, drain on paper towels or on brown paper bags. Keep warm in a 300' oven while frying the remaining clams.
• Serve with tartar sauce.

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB

Steps:

• Clean each crab. Lift one pointed side of top shell and remove the gills by pulling them out. Put top shell back down and repeat on other side. On the bottom side remove tail flap by twisting and pulling off. Using a pair of scissors, remove the face by cutting behind the eyes. Rinse the crabs thoroughly with cold water. Dry on paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees F). In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg and milk using a fork. In a separate bowl, stir salt and pepper into the flour. Lightly salt the crab, then dip in the flour, dip in the egg, then in the flour again.
• Carefully place crabs into the deep-fryer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Carefully turn over, and cook until golden on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Serve as soon as they are cool enough to eat. You can eat the whole crab.

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CLAMS

Steps:

• Rinse the clams under cold water and drain. Fill a pot large enough to hold all the clams half full of water and bring to a boil. Add the clams, reduce the flame to low and let the clams sit for 3 or 4 minutes. Drain and place the clams in a bowl of cold water. When cool, open each shell and remove the clam. Use a small knife to cut out any that adhere. Discard the black mantle covering the neck. Soak the clams in a bowl with evaporated milk or buttermilk.
• In a heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat the oil to 360 degrees. Meanwhile, remove the clams from the milk and drain. Combine the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. When the oil is hot, toss the clams in the flour mixture to coat. Shake off any loose flour and immediately put the clams into the oil. Do not let floured clams sit or they will not be crisp when fried. In a minute or two, when the clams are a little darker than cornflakes, remove them, drain on paper towels and serve with tartar sauce.

SUNNY'S EASY FRIED CAJUN CLAMS

Steps:

• For the Cajun clams: In a bowl, add the milk, seafood seasoning, lemon zest, a nice pinch of salt and a few good grinds of pepper. Whisk until the salt dissolves. Add the clams, and then soak in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• For the dredge mixture: In a brown paper bag or bowl, add the cornmeal, flour, seafood seasoning, a nice pinch of salt and a few good grinds of pepper. Stir to combine. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the clams from the bowl, shaking off any excess milk. Drop them into the flour mixture and shake or stir to coat. Place the clams on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and rest 15 minutes.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, add enough oil to reach 4 inches up the sides. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 365 degrees F. Fry the clams in batches until golden brown, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on the size of the clams. Remove from the oil to a paper-towel-lined plate and season lightly with salt.
• Serve with a spritz of lemon juice, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce, but I'm having it with a side of burger.

PAN-FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Combine flour and seafood seasoning in a resealable zip-top bag. Seal and shake to mix. Combine egg and milk in a bowl. Dredge crabs in egg mixture, then add to seasoned flour and shake to coat. Shake off excess when removing from bag.
• Heat olive oil in a large saute pan or skillet over medium heat. Add crabs in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes; flip and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Remove to a serving dish.
• Mix mayonnaise, chives, pickle juice, mustard, seafood seasoning, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together for remoulade. Serve with crabs.

FRIED RAZOR CLAMS (OR STEAMERS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve 1 cup of salt in 3 quarts water. Add the clams. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cornmeal over water. Soak for at least 1 hour.
• Rinse the clams thoroughly, then shuck and clean them. (For help, go to www.razorclams.com.) Slice the clams into 1-inch pieces. (For steamers, pierce the bellies to prevent them from popping when fried.)
• In a deep pan, heat oil to 360 degrees. Strain the reserved clam juice, then combine with the milk and cayenne. Add the clams to this mixture.
• In a bowl combine the flour, remaining cornmeal and 2 teaspoons salt. Dredge clams in the flour. Shake off excess flour and deep-fry for about 1 minute. As soon as the sound of the frying quickly lowers, remove the clams to a paper-towel-lined plate. Season with salt. Serve with tartar sauce.

FRIED SOFT SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• Beat egg and milk.
• Add salt.
• Dip crabs thoroughly in egg and milk mixture,.
• then in flour and baking powder which have been mixed.
• Have hot fat about 1/2" deep and cook until golden brown.
• Serve with tartar sauce.