Brissin Clam Fritters Food

CLAM FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl combine the crumbs, clams and pimiento. Season with some salt and pepper. Stir the yolks into the batter and moisten with enough milk to make a heavy batter.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the mixture. Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto a non-stick skillet and cook until browned on both sides. Serve over an arugula or sliced tomato salad.

CLAMS WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Wash and vigorously scrub the littlenecks under cold running water. Place them on a tray, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside until ready to serve. Finely chop the shucked cherrystones and set them aside, refrigerate. Pour the clam liquor through a strainer lined with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth. Add enough additional clam juice or water to make the liquid up to 5 1/2 cups. Set aside, refrigerate. Place the quinoa in a bowl and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Let soak for 5 minutes, then massage the grain between the palms of your hands for a moment. Strain through a fine strainer, rinse with cold running water, and repeat the soaking and rubbing process. Set the quinoa aside to drain.
• In a large casserole with a cover, preferably earthenware, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute until it is totally translucent but not browned, about 8 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the garlic, chiles, bay leaf, cumin, and pepper. Stir over the heat for 2 minutes more, or until the aroma of the garlic is released. Add the tomato paste, chopped clams, and potatoes and stir together to mix. Pour in 4 1/2 cups of the reserved clam juice, bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the quinoa and cook for 25 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
• While the quinoa is cooking, in another large saucepan reduce the white wine by half over medium heat. Add the garlic, salt, pepper flakes, julienned red pepper, and the remaining 1/2 cup clam juice and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the littlenecks, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the clams have barely opened, gently stirring the mixture once during the cooking time. Mound the quinoa mixture onto a large platter and spoon the littlenecks, with all of their juice and the peppers, over the top. Scatter the cilantro over and serve immediately.

CLAM FRITTERS

Steps:

• Drain clams, reserving the juice. Coarsely chop clams (I run them through the grinder).
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Stir into chopped clams with combined clam juice and eggs.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls into a little hot fat or salad oil in skillet (I use a deep-fat fryer) and fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

CLAM FRITTERS

Steps:

• Either open the clams by hand, reserving both the juice within them and the clams, or steam the clams until they just open, reserving both the broth and the clams. Put the clams on a cutting board, and chop them coarsely.
• Put the flour in a mixing bowl, and add to it the egg yolks, onion, red pepper, celery, garlic, jalapeño and clams, then mix to combine. Add the clam broth to the mixture, and stir until it is a thick batter running almost to loose.
• Make the sauce. Whisk together the ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce and lime juice in a medium-size bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add more mayonnaise, hot sauce or lime juice if desired.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff, then whisk the baking powder into the clam batter, and carefully fold the egg whites into it afterward.
• Heat enough oil to come up an inch or so on the sides of a large, deep frying pan until it is quite hot, approximately 350 degrees. Drop the batter by the tablespoon into the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan, and cook, turning once or twice, until the fritters are golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place on a warmed platter. Serve with the sauce on the side, with the scallions and wedges of lime.