Grilled Littleneck Clams Recipes

GRILLED CLAMS WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or Great Grates over medium heat.
• Scrub and rinse the clams. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat until it is foamy. Add the garlic and saute, stirring, until it is fragrant but does not color, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and heavy cream, increase the heat to medium-high and reduce by half, about 8 minutes. Add the remaining butter 1 piece at a time, whisking constantly, until the sauce is shiny, emulsified, and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the chives and season with salt and pepper. Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.
• Set up the littleneck clams on the grill or Great Grates or place them directly on the grill. Cook the clams without turning them. As soon as the clams pop open, after 8 to 10 minutes, transfer them carefully with tongs to a platter (or plates) of rock salt. If you are using a Great Grate, this won't be necessary. Use the tongs to pry off the top shells. Spoon 1 teaspoon sauce over each clam and serve immediately.

GRILLED CLAMS AND MUSSELS WITH GARLIC, ALMONDS AND MINT

Steps:

• Build a very hot charcoal fire, mounding coals in the center of the grill, or heat a gas grill.
• Scrub mussels and clams under running water to remove any clinging grit.
• Put clams, wine, oil, sliced garlic and chile in a large disposable aluminum roasting pan and stir. Cover pan tightly with heavy-duty foil. Place pan on the grill and cover. Let cook undisturbed for 10 minutes, then use mitts to open foil and stir in mussels. Replace foil and continue cooking, with grill covered, 10 minutes more. By this time, most or all of the shellfish should be open. Use tongs to transfer opened shellfish to a serving bowl and return any unopened in the pan to continue cooking, covered, for another few minutes. Any that remain unopened should be discarded. Combine all shellfish and pan juices in the bowl.
• Toss shellfish with mint, almonds, chopped garlic and lemon zest. Drizzle with additional oil. Brush grilled bread slices with oil and serve alongside for soaking up juices.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH GARLIC, WHITE WINE, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat a grill: If using a charcoal grill, make a fire in your grill with the coals placed off to one side. When the coals are completely covered in gray ash, hold your hand about 5 inches above the grill grid; count how many seconds you can comfortably leave it there. When you can hold it there for 2 to 3 seconds, you have medium-high heat and are ready to grill. If you are using a gas grill, heat the grill for 15 minutes with the lid closed. Before beginning to cook, reduce the temperature by turning the knobs to medium-high.
• Place a large heatproof pan on grill near, but not over, the hottest side of the grill. Add butter and garlic and cook until butter is melted, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and white wine.
• Place clams directly over fire on grill and cook until opened, transferring clams to pan as they open. Season clams with salt and pepper; sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately with grilled bread.

EASY GRILLED CLAMS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for very high heat.
• Tap any open clams; if they stay open, throw them out. Place the closed clams on the grill grate. Grill, covered, until the clams open, about 2 minutes. Carefully transfer all the opened clams to a bowl; throw out any clams that remain closed. Be careful not to lose any of the liquid in the shells-that's where the flavor is.

GRILLED CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• Tap clams; discard any that do not close., In a large disposable roasting pan, layer the clams, corn, potatoes, onions, wine, herbs, oil, garlic, pepper, pepper sauce, salt and bay leaves. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 15 minutes., Add crab; cook until potatoes are tender, 25-30 minutes. Discard bay leaves; stir in butter. Serve with bread if desired.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH LEMON-CAYENNE BUTTER

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, or on a cutting board using flat part of a knife, mash together garlic and salt until a paste forms. Scrape paste into a small bowl and stir in butter, lemon juice and cayenne. Taste and make sure salt and lemon are balanced.
• Preheat grill. Place clams directly on grill grate or on a large baking pan in a single layer. Cover grill and let clams cook for 2 minutes. Open grill and check clams, using tongs to remove any that have opened, and transfer them to a large bowl. Be careful not to spill clams' juices when transferring them. Close grill lid and check every 30 seconds, removing clams as they open.
• Pour lemon-cayenne butter over clam bowl and toss lightly. Serve hot, garnished with chives.

GRILLED LITTLE NECK CLAMS IN WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• This requires a disposable tin that is large enough to hold all the clams.
• Scrub and rinse the clams well to remove all dirt prior to cooking.
• Preheat the grill to 500 degrees.
• Add all ingredients to the tin and stir to mix all ingredients together.
• Cover the tin tightly with foil.
• Place in covered grill for approximately 15 minutes to allow the steam to open the clams.
• TIP: cooking time may vary due to differences in grills. Rather than open the foil to see if the clams are open, touch the top of the foil. Once the clams are open, they will push up on the top and there will not be as much loose space as there was before they opened. Removing the foil to check will release the steam and will prolong the cooking process which could result in tough, dry, overcooked clams.

CLAMS GRILLED IN A FOIL POUCH

Steps:

• 1. Stack two 2 1/2-foot-long pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil. In the center, heap 18 littleneck clams, scrubbed; 2 diced seeded plum tomatoes; 1 shallot, thinly sliced; and the leaves from a few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley and oregano sprigs, coarsely chopped. If desired, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Top with 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional). Fold up the sides of the foil to form a pouch.
• 2. Pour 1/4 cup dry white wine over the clam mixture, and roll the top edges over several times to seal tightly, leaving plenty of room for the clams to steam.
• 3. Place the pouch on the hot grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the shells have opened. Serve immediately with grilled crusty bread.