Steamed Clams Baja Style Recipes

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.

GARLIC-STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy pot over medium-low heat. Add garlic and bouillon; saute for 5 minutes. Increase heat and add water and wine.
• Add clams and cover with a glass lid. Steam until clams open, shaking to pot gently to redistribute the clams, about 6 minutes; do not open the lid.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove clams to a serving bowl; discard any that did not open.
• Add parsley, salt, and pepper to the broth. Pour broth over the clams and serve.

STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash the clams thoroughly and remove any blemishes. They should have no odor. Heat oil in a large saucepan (with a cover) over medium heat and cook garlic and onion until translucent. Add the wine and let cook for a couple of minutes to combine the flavors. Add the clams and clam juice (or water) and cover the pan for about 10 minutes until the clams open. Discard any clams that do not open and remove clams to serving bowls. Season the juices in the pan with salt and pepper to make a sauce. Pour the sauce and melted butter over the clams.

BUTTER-STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Pour the chicken stock and wine into a stockpot or a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup. The last 2 minutes of the reduction goes quickly, so check often. The liquid will resemble a brown glaze. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Add the garlic, onion, parsley, cilantro, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice to the pan and stir. Add the clams, cover the pan, and cook on high for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the clams open.
• Remove the pan from the heat and discard any unopened clams. Add the butter and pepper, cover, and let sit until the butter melts, about 2 minutes. Toss gently.
• Spoon the clams into bowls, spooning any liquid remaining in the pan over the top. Serve hot.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH HAM, BELL PEPPER, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over low heat. Add ham and bell pepper and sauté until light brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and dried red pepper; stir 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Lightly brush baguette slices on both sides with oil. Grill bread until light brown on outside but soft on inside, about 2 minutes per side.
• Combine clams and wine in large pot. Cover and boil over high heat until clams begin to open, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer clams to 6 bowls, discarding any clams that do not open. Add liquid in pot to skillet with ham-bell pepper mixture. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in basil. Pour mixture over clams, dividing equally. Serve clams, passing grilled bread separately.

STEAMED CLAMS, BAJA STYLE

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients except the lime wedges and rolls in a large pot, and cover with a tight lid to prevent steam from escaping. Bring to a boil over high heat until the clams pop open in about 5 minutes. (Discard any that don't open.) Serve hot in the shells with lime wedges to squeeze over the clams. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.