Clam And Mussel Soup Sicilian Style Food

MUSSELS, CLAMS AND SHRIMP IN SPICY BROTH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper. Saute until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and the flavors blend, about 5 minutes. Stir in the clams. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the mussels. Cover and cook until the clams and mussels open, about 5 minutes longer.
• Using a tongs, transfer the opened shellfish to serving bowls (discard any shellfish that do not open). Add the shrimp and basil to the simmering tomato broth. Simmer until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes. Divide the shrimp and tomato broth among the bowls. Serve with the warm bread.

SICILIAN MUSSELS MARINARA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until the garlic is slightly softened, about 1 minute. Drain the tomatoes, reserving 1/2 cup juice; crush the tomatoes with your hands and set aside. Add the tomato juice and bay leaves to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Add the clam juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until the liquid evaporates slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 12 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high. Remove the bay leaves and add the mussels to the sauce. Cover and cook until the mussels open, about 5 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Add the spaghetti and parsley; toss to coat. Season with salt and drizzle with more olive oil.

MUSSEL SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, combine the mussels, wine, water, lemon juice, bay leaf, and crab boil, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the mussels have opened, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard any unopened mussels. Strain the cooking liquid through a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean container. Remove the mussels from the shells and set aside. Discard the shells.
• In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until just golden and starting to crisp, about 3 minutes. Add the onions and leeks, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the bay leaves and thyme, and stir well. Add the strained mussel cooking liquid, the potatoes, milk, and cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Add the cooked mussels and simmer until warmed through. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Meanwhile, place the bread slices on a baking sheet and rub on both sides with the garlic cloves. Bake until light golden brown, turning once, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with the parsley, and serve with the garlic croutons.

CLAM AND MUSSEL SOUP, SICILIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• In a large pot, sauté the onion, garlic, fennel, and tomatoes in the olive oil until wilted. Add the clams and mussels, white wine, crushed red pepper, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer until all the clams and mussels are open, about 5 minutes. Discard any shellfish that do not open. Taste the broth and adjust the seasonings. To make the garlic bread, toast the bread and rub the garlic cloves over the bread. Sprinkle with the olive oil and dried oregano. Serve immediately.

CORN, CLAM, AND MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon to pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally.
• Add onion, celery, and chopped thyme to pan; cook 8 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Add potato and bottled juice; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 9 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Stir in corn and mussels; bring to a boil. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until mussels open; discard any unopened shells.
• Combine half-and-half, milk, and flour in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Stir half-and-half mixture and clams into pan; cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons reserved clam liquid and salt. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

ZUPPA DE CLAMS (OR MUSSELS)

Steps:

• Wash and dry the clams and soak them in a large bowl in cold, salted water for about 30 minutes.
• Any remaining sand should fall to the bottom of the bowl.
• Drain the clams and rinse them well in a colander under running water.
• Crush one clove of garlic, and slice the remaining cloves very thin.
• In a large, heavy pan, sauté the crushed garlic until it begins to brown, then remove from the pan and discard.
• Add the remaining sliced garlic and the parsley.
• Cook over very low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomatoes and enough liquid to just make a slightly soupy dish.
• You don't want too much liquid in this, but judge the amount to your taste.
• Season with the salt and pepper, then raise the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
• (Add more liquid if necessary).
• Add the clams, lower the heat again, cover pan, and let steam for about 10 minutes, or until the shells have opened and the clams are ready.
• Discard any unopened clams.
• Sprinkle with more freshly ground pepper and the basil, if desired.
• (You can substitute a teaspoon of dried if you wish).
• Serve in shallow bowls with slices of bread for dunking.