Steamed Clams With Bacon Tomato And Spinach Food

STEAMED CLAMS WITH BACON, TOMATO, AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to break down and sauce thickens slightly, about 8 minutes.
• Increase heat to moderately high, then add clams and bring to a boil, covered. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams just open wide, about 6 minutes (discard clams that do not open after 10 minutes). Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

PORTUGUESE STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Wash clams well in a sink of cold water. Discard any clams that are already opened.
• In a large stock pot with a tight fitting lid, place the cleaned clams. Add the sausage, onion, tomatoes and wine. Cover and set over high heat. Steam until all the clams open up. Be sure to shake the pan often to insure even heat.
• Drizzle olive oil over the cooked clams. Evenly divide all the ingredients into warm soup plates. Divide the broth into side cups for dipping.

STEAMED CORN WITH CLAMS AND BACON

Steps:

• In a large, heavy bottomed pot set over medium heat, cook the bacon until it begins to render its fat. Add the garlic, and cook until it turns translucent.
• Add the clams, corn and white wine, then stir in the pimentón. Increase heat to high, and cook for approximately 30 seconds, to evaporate the alcohol. Lower heat to medium low, cover the pot and steam until the clams have all opened and the corn is tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. (Discard any unopened clams.)
• Using tongs and a spoon, remove all the clams and corn and bacon from the pot, and place in large, warm bowl, with a healthy dose of broth, a scattering of Aleppo pepper and the torn basil, and drizzle with olive oil.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic, hot pepper flakes, and oregano and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomatoes, increase heat to high, and cook until tomatoes burst, about 4 minutes. Add clams and 3/4 cup water, cover, and cook until clams open, stirring once, 8 to 10 minutes. Discard any unopened clams. Drizzle with oil to serve.

CLAMS IN SPINACH AND GARLIC BROTH

Steps:

• Place chicken stock in 4-quart saucepan. Add 3 cups spinach, and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Use slotted spoon to transfer spinach to blender, with 1/2 cup hot chicken stock. Puree.
• Place wine in 4-quart saucepan, add clams, cover and cook over medium heat until clams open, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain clams, and strain liquid into chicken stock. Set clams aside.
• Add parsley, watercress, basil, chives and remaining spinach to blender. Puree. Add garlic and shallots. Puree. Add butter. Puree, and pour mixture into chicken stock. Add lemon juice, Pernod and cream. Season to taste with pepper.
• Add clams to broth, reheat and serve.

ITALIAN CLAMS IN TOMATO AND HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Buy your clams the same day you intend to cook them. This ensures that you will have as few dead clams as possible.
• Store your clams in the fridge in a colander, covered loosely with a damp paper towel.
• Chop the tomatoes in a food processor until they are finely diced (not yet pasty).
• Heat 3 tbsp oil in a saucepan. Add the garlic and red pepper and cook for about a minute.
• Add the tomatoes and sugar to taste (about 1/2 tsp). Simmer for at least 1/2 hour, preferably for a whole hour.
• Preheat the oven to 315 degrees. Slice your bread to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread a little olive oil on each slice. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes.
• If necessary, scrub and de-beard your clams. Any clams that have broken shells must be thrown out. Any shells that are open and will not close when tapped on the counter must be thrown out.
• Food process the onion until it is finely diced.
• Put 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet that has a lid. Heat, then add onion and cook about 3 minutes. Do not brown.
• Add the sprigs of parsley and thyme to the pan and cook another 30 seconds, then add the wine. Boil, then simmer 5 minutes.
• Add the clams that did not get thrown out. Cover, turn the heat to high and cook 5-8 minutes, or until the clams have opened. Shake the pan frequently to stir, but do not take off the lid.
• After clams have opened, remove from heat. Throw out any clams that did not open (they were dead before you started cooking).
• Strain the cooking liquid into the tomato sauce. Throw out the sprigs and the onion.
• Place toasted bread in a ring around the outside of the serving bowl. Place the clams in the middle of the bowl and pour the tomato sauce over them.
• Garnish with chopped parsley and thyme.