Mussels And Clams With Sizzling Brown Butter And Capers 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.

MUSSELS AND CLAMS WITH SIZZLING BROWN BUTTER AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Wash clams well. Wash mussels, making sure to remove and discard their beards. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in each of 2 large cast iron frying pans over high heat. Add clams and half the thyme to 1 of the pans; add mussels and half of the thyme to the other pan; cook for 1 minute. Divide butter and capers between the 2 pans. Continue cooking clams and mussels for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they open.
• To serve, place clams mussels and the butter in which they cooked in a warmed serving bowl and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve with bread on the side, to soak up the butter at the bottom of the bowl.

PASTA WITH SMOKED MUSSELS AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to a boil and boil pasta. Meanwhile prepare the ingredients: Coarsely chopping the mussels, sardines, capers and parsley and adding them to the bottom of a mixing bowl. Add lemon juice and olive oil and season to taste with salt and crushed red pepper.
• When pasta is done, drain and shake dry and add to the bowl; toss with scallions, reserving some for garnish. Serve warm.
• Refresh leftovers with vinaigrette.

PASTA WITH MUSSELS, TOMATOES AND FRIED CAPERS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain.
• As pasta cooks, prepare the bread crumbs: In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add capers and minced garlic, and let sizzle for 30 seconds. Add bread crumbs, and fry until both crumbs and capers are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Scrape the crumbs and capers onto a plate, and season to taste with salt.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot and let it get hot. Add sliced garlic and red-pepper flakes, and let sizzle until garlic is golden at the edges, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes have softened and start to lose their shape, about 6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer tomato solids to a small bowl, add lemon juice to taste, and set aside.
• Add wine and oregano to the pot and bring to a simmer. Add mussels, cover and cook over medium heat, shaking the pot occasionally, until mussels have opened and are cooked through, about 4 to 7 minutes. Transfer mussels with a slotted spoon to a large bowl, and let cool slightly. Discard any unopened mussels.
• Simmer the mussels liquid until reduced to a glaze, about 5 minutes. Discard oregano sprigs.
• When mussels are still hot (but not too hot to handle), pull meat from shells and add to the pot with reduced mussel broth (discard shells). Add pasta, tomatoes and butter, and toss well. Taste and add more lemon juice and salt if needed.
• Transfer mixture to a shallow serving bowl and toss with herbs. Top with bread crumb-caper mixture and serve.

FLOUNDER WITH BROWN BUTTER, LEMON AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Put flour in a low bowl or pie plate and stir in a generous amount of salt and pepper and a pinch of cayenne.
• Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and tilt pan to coat bottom.
• Season the fillets lightly with salt and pepper. Dip each fillet quickly into flour mixture, shaking off excess flour.
• Lay fillets in skillet in one layer. Cook for about 2 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter.
• Leave the heat at medium-high and add cold butter. Let butter sizzle until foamy and brown, but do not let it burn. Add lemon juice, parsley and chopped tarragon and swirl to incorporate.
• Spoon butter sauce over fish. Garnish with a few tarragon leaves and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SIMPLE STEAMED CLAMS OR MUSSELS

Steps:

• Put the oil in a saucepan large enough to hold all the clams or mussels over medium heat. When hot, add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, 5 minutes.
• Add the liquid along with the clams or mussels, turn the heat up to high, and cover the pot. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until they all (or nearly all) open, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Scoop the mussels into a serving bowl. Remove as many shallots as you can with a slotted spoon and scatter them on top. Pour or ladle off the accumulated liquid, leaving any sediment in the bottom of the pan, and pour it over the mussels. Garnish with parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.