Deep Fried Steamer Clams Food

DEEP FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the deep-fryer to 375 F or heat 3 inches of peanut oil in a Dutch oven.
• Measure cracker crumbs, poultry seasoning, salt, chipotle pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and dill weed into a large zip-top bag. Toss to combine. Set aside.
• Stir the clams into the beaten eggs. Using a slotted spoon, remove a few clams at a time and place them in the bag of herbed cracker crumbs. Shake to coat, remove clams, and place on a platter. Repeat until all clams are coated.
• Fry clams in batches, about 30 seconds, until golden brown. Take care not to crowd the clams while frying. Drain on paper towels and serve hot as an appetizer or entrée.

DEEP-FRIED STEAMER CLAMS

Steps:

• Put the clams in a mixing bowl and add salt, pepper and buttermilk.
• Put the flour in a large flat dish and add the clams. Toss the clams to coat well. Shake off excess flour.
• Heat the oil in a deep skillet or wok. When it is quite hot (365 degrees on a deep-fat thermometer) add about one quarter of the clams and cook, stirring so that they brown evenly, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. As the clams brown and become crisp, scoop them out with a perforated kitchen spoon onto absorbent paper towels. Add another batch of clams. Continue cooking until all the clams are crisp and browned.

FRIED RAZOR CLAMS (OR STEAMERS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve 1 cup of salt in 3 quarts water. Add the clams. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cornmeal over water. Soak for at least 1 hour.
• Rinse the clams thoroughly, then shuck and clean them. (For help, go to www.razorclams.com.) Slice the clams into 1-inch pieces. (For steamers, pierce the bellies to prevent them from popping when fried.)
• In a deep pan, heat oil to 360 degrees. Strain the reserved clam juice, then combine with the milk and cayenne. Add the clams to this mixture.
• In a bowl combine the flour, remaining cornmeal and 2 teaspoons salt. Dredge clams in the flour. Shake off excess flour and deep-fry for about 1 minute. As soon as the sound of the frying quickly lowers, remove the clams to a paper-towel-lined plate. Season with salt. Serve with tartar sauce.

MAINE FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• Take three large wide bowls and put flour in one, whip the eggs and milk in the second, and cracker meal in the third.
• Dip clams in the flour, then the egg wash and then the crackers. Deep fry at 375 until golden.

FRIED IPSWICH WHOLE BELLY CLAMS WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set up for what we call "standard breading procedure": Put the flour in a shallow bowl; put the eggs in a second shallow bowl and beat them with a fork; put the cracker meal, bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Old Bay in a third shallow bowl and whisk to combine.
• Spread the clams out on several layers of paper towels and blot them as dry as possible.
• Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 360°F.
• Toss the clams in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip the clams into the egg, coating them completely. Lift them out by the handful and let any excess egg drip off, then put the clams into the breading mixture and toss to coat them completely. Keep one hand dry and use the other hand for wet. Transfer to the baking sheet. If the breading begins to clump, put it through a coarse sieve.
• Fry the clams in small batches-crowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil and the clams will come out greasy-until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
• Pile the clams on 4 dinner plates and serve with individual bowls of tartar sauce-and some fries.

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CLAMS

Steps:

• Rinse the clams under cold water and drain. Fill a pot large enough to hold all the clams half full of water and bring to a boil. Add the clams, reduce the flame to low and let the clams sit for 3 or 4 minutes. Drain and place the clams in a bowl of cold water. When cool, open each shell and remove the clam. Use a small knife to cut out any that adhere. Discard the black mantle covering the neck. Soak the clams in a bowl with evaporated milk or buttermilk.
• In a heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat the oil to 360 degrees. Meanwhile, remove the clams from the milk and drain. Combine the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. When the oil is hot, toss the clams in the flour mixture to coat. Shake off any loose flour and immediately put the clams into the oil. Do not let floured clams sit or they will not be crisp when fried. In a minute or two, when the clams are a little darker than cornflakes, remove them, drain on paper towels and serve with tartar sauce.

BATTERED FRIED CLAMS

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl mix milk, egg yolk, butter, and salt. Sift the flour into the milk mixture stir until smooth. In a small chilled bowl beat the egg white with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. (For best results: refrigerate the bowl, mixer blade and egg white prior to mixing) Fold the beaten egg white into the milk mixture.
• In a large saucepan or deep fat fryer heat oil to 375'. Poke each clam with fork. Dip clams into the batter. Fry a few at a time around 1-1/2 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Remove with slotted spoon, drain on paper towels or on brown paper bags. Keep warm in a 300' oven while frying the remaining clams.
• Serve with tartar sauce.