Tequila Chorizo Clams On The Grill Food

STEAMED CLAMS WITH CHORIZO AND TEQUILA

Steps:

• Heat a heavy, medium pot over medium heat. Add the chorizo, breaking up the large pieces with a wooden spoon. Saute until almost crisp, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo to paper towels to drain.
• Add the butter and onions and cook over medium-high heat until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 3 minutes longer. Add the tequila and clam juice and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, scraping up the browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Add the clams to the pot, cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the clams open wide, 10 to 12 minutes (discard any clams that remain unopened). Return the chorizo to the pot and stir to combine. Divide between 2 bowls, sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve with the loaf of sourdough.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or Great Grates over medium heat.
• Scrub and rinse the clams. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat until it is foamy. Add the garlic and saute, stirring, until it is fragrant but does not color, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and heavy cream, increase the heat to medium-high and reduce by half, about 8 minutes. Add the remaining butter 1 piece at a time, whisking constantly, until the sauce is shiny, emulsified, and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the chives and season with salt and pepper. Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.
• Set up the littleneck clams on the grill or Great Grates or place them directly on the grill. Cook the clams without turning them. As soon as the clams pop open, after 8 to 10 minutes, transfer them carefully with tongs to a platter (or plates) of rock salt. If you are using a Great Grate, this won't be necessary. Use the tongs to pry off the top shells. Spoon 1 teaspoon sauce over each clam and serve immediately.

CLAMS WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepot over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook, using a spoon or spatula to break up the sausage into small pieces, until the sausage begins to brown. Add the onions and garlic and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the sausage has browned, 3 to 4 minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic.
• Add the clams to the pot and let settle for a minute, then add the white wine and cilantro. Re-season with salt and pepper and cover tightly with a lid. Let cook about 5 minutes, making sure that the broth at the bottom is at a simmer during that time. After 5 minutes, the clams should have opened or be mostly open; if not, or if the mixture is dry, add another 1/4 cup or so of wine, cover and simmer until the clams are open, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Taste the broth for seasoning and add salt or pepper if necessary. Add the butter to the broth and stir to combine.
• Transfer to a large serving bowl, making sure to pour the broth over the clams. (Remove any unopened clams and discard them.) Serve with crusty bread or baguette.

CHORIZO CLAMS

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy stockpot over medium-high heat, add the canola oil and cook the chorizo for 3 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the onion, peppers, salt, and garlic and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the onion has softened. Add the chili flakes and jalapeno and cook for 2 minutes more. Then add the tequila and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and add the clams and chopped cilantro. Cover tightly and cook until all the clams open, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once. Discard any unopened clams.
• 2. While the clams are steaming, drizzle the bread with olive oil and broil or grill until just crisp, about 45 seconds each side.
• 3. Divide the clams into 2 shallow serving bowls and ladle the cooking liquid on top. Squeeze the lemon over the clams. Garnish with the bread and a cilantro sprig.