Quahog Stuffies Recipes

TIM O'TOOLE'S FAMOUS STUFFED QUAHOGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring water to a boil over high heat. Add sausage links; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove links from broth; reserve the broth. Remove casings from the sausage.
• Bring the broth back to a simmer and add the quahogs; cook until they open, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the quahogs; reserve the broth. Remove the cooked quahogs from the shells. Separate the shell halves. If necessary wash the shells.
• Place the sausage and quahog meat into the bowl of a food processor; process until chopped, about 12 seconds, depending on your processor. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Add chopped onion to the processor; chop about 5 seconds. Stir in to the meat mixture.
• Make the full container of stuffing according to package directions, using the margarine, and substituting the sausage/clam broth for water. There may be more broth than you need.
• Mix together the stuffing and sausage/clam/onion mixture. Spoon filling into empty clam shell halves and top each with a small pat of butter (about a third of a teaspoon).
• Place the shells on a baking pan; bake in the preheated oven until toasty brown on top, 15 to 20 minutes.

DAD'S FAMOUS STUFFIES

Steps:

• Add 2 in. water to a stockpot. Add clams and chourico; bring to a boil. Cover and steam 15-20 minutes or until clams open., Remove clams and sausage from pot, reserving 2 cups cooking liquid; cool slightly. Discard any unopened clams., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove clam meat from shells. Separate shells; reserve 30 half-shells for stuffing. Place clam meat in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl., Remove casings from sausage; cut sausage into 1-1/2-in. pieces. Place in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add sausage, onion and seafood seasoning to chopped clams. Stir in stuffing cubes. Add reserved cooking liquid and enough water to reach desired moistness, about 1 cup., Spoon clam mixture into reserved shells. Place in 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Preheat broiler., Broil clams 4-6 in. from heat 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. If desired, serve with lemon wedges and pepper sauce. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked stuffed clams in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan until firm. Transfer to freezer containers; return to freezer. To use, place 3 stuffed clams on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a paper towel; microwave on high until heated through, 3-4 minutes. Serve as directed.

STUFFED QUAHOGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place cubed bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until dry, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
• In a saute pan set over medium-high heat, cook chorizo, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and chorizo is lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove chorizo from fat, and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Blot dry, and set aside.
• Under running water, scrub clams clean. Place in a large stockpot, and add 2/3 cup water. Cover pot, and place over high heat. Steam until all clams have opened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove clams from pot, discarding any that do not open; strain broth through a paper-towel-lined fine strainer; set aside.
• Remove meat from shells. Chop into 1/4-inch pieces; set aside. Separate shells into halves; clean them thoroughly by boiling in a large pot of water for 5 minutes. Remove shells from pot; let cool.
• In a large saute pan set over medium heat, warm olive oil. Cook garlic, onions, and red-pepper flakes, stirring, until onions are soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 cup reserved clam broth into eggs. Add onion mixture, clams, chorizo, and herbs; toss well. Add bread cubes. Fold together until just mixed. Season with pepper.
• Heat grill. Fill each clam shell with stuffing, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup filling per shell. Dot top of each filled shell with butter. Place quahogs, stuffing side up, on grill; cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate; serve warm.

STUFFED QUAHOG, "STUFFIE"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a medium pot over high heat and bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the quahogs and cover the pan. Steam them until they open, at least 6 minutes. Discard any quahogs that do not open. Strain broth and reserve 1/4 cup. Remove the quahogs from the shells (leaving the shells intact; do not snap apart) and chop the meat.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the chourico, onions, and green pepper and cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chopped clam meat, lemon juice, and hot sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
• In a large mixing bowl, pour the chourico mixture over the cubed bread and add the cilantro, parsley, red pepper paste, bread crumbs and clam broth. Mix gently, and then stuff the each clam shell with about 3/4 cup of clam stuffing. Wrap the clam shells in aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

BAKED STUFFED QUAHOGS OR CLAMS (RHODE ISLAND STYLE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350 degrees.
• Shuck quahogs/clams. Chop quahog meat into bite size chunks and set aside. Save shells and juice. You should have 24 shells for 24 "stuffies". Scrub the shells clean before stuffing.
• Melt 1/2 stick of butter and saute celery and onion on medium low heat for about 5 minutes. Add white wine, remaining butter and clam juice and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes to reduce liquid just a bit and butter is melted. Add chopped quahogs and remove from heat. Strain and separate liquid from solids - do not toss anything!
• In a large bowl add stuffing, pour liquid on stuffing. If stuffing is dry add more of the clam juice. Stuffing should have a sloppy soupy consistency.
• Add clam and veggie mixture to stuffing. Remember stuffing must be soupy because when it cooks the liquid will dry up.
• Add 1 T Old Bay at a time, mix and taste - if you need more flavor add a little more. Be careful - Old Bay is salty.
• Place shells on a large pizza/cookie sheet. Spray each with a little oil spray to prevent stuffing from sticking.
• Scoop a large amount of stuffing in each of the quahogs - you may be able to use all 24 shells.
• A few things to remember - do not over cook quahogs in pan w/veggies, stuffing must be soupy - if it's dry add a little more clam juice, be careful with the Old Bay. This a an easy recipe, but it took me a couple of times before I perfected it.
• I put 35-40 minutes for cooking - but when the stuffing is set and the top is crunchy and brown - they are done!
• Enjoy!

RHODE ISLAND STUFFIES

Steps:

• Open quahogs, placing meat and juice in separate bowls. Save shells.
• In a large bowl, break bread into small pieces and add enough quahog juice (clam juice) so bread is well moistened, but not soggy.
• Add chopped quahogs (clams).
• In a frying pan, add oil and sauté onion, green pepper and garlic until soft, but not brown.
• Add sautéed onion, green pepper, garlic, and crushed red pepper to bread mixture; mix well.
• Wash shells and separate.
• Mound shell halves with stuffing.
• Sprinkle top with paprika and parsley.
• Dot tops with a small amount of margarine.
• Set in a pan and bake in preheated 375°F oven for about 25 minutes or until heated through.
• OPTIONAL: You may add ground Chourice to onion while sautéing.