The Very Best Baked Clams Casino Food

ROASTED CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• For the clams: Add the clams to a large pot or large saute pan with a lid. Add 1/2 cup water and cover the pan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and steam until the clams open, 6 to 10 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open. Reserve 1/4 cup clam juice.
• When they are cool enough to handle, remove the empty top shells of each clam and use your fingers to gently pull the clams from the bottom shell; reserve the bottom shells. Finely chop the clams and reserve.
• Cook the bacon in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until well crisp and rendered, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pan (if the pan seems dry, add a touch of oil). Add the shallots, peppers, a pinch of salt and the crushed red pepper flakes and cook until soft and starting to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme to the pan and cook until the raw-garlic flavor is gone and the shallots are sweet, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the oregano leaves to bloom, then deglaze with the wine and 1/4 cup reserved clam juice and cook until the mixture is reduced by about 80 percent, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the bacon and parsley to combine. Place the bacon mixture in a bowl over an ice bath, stir in the butter and clams and cool slightly until just warm. Taste the mixture and season with salt.
• For the breadcrumbs: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Put the panko, crushed garlic clove and a pinch of salt in dry skillet over medium heat and toast, stirring and tossing constantly till lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the panko mixture to a bowl and stir in the extra-virgin olive oil, pepper flakes and parsley with a fork. Discard the crushed garlic clove.
• Stuff each clam shell generously with about 1 tablespoon of the clam mixture and sprinkle with enough breadcrumbs to coat, pressing lightly so the breadcrumbs stick. Place the stuffed clams on a metal tray or cast-iron pan. Bake until hot and golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

THE VERY BEST BAKED CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash the clams and rinse to remove any sand. Arrange the clams on a baking sheet and roast in the oven until opened, approximately 4-5 minutes. Discard any unopened clams.
• Remove the clams from the shells. Roughly chop the clams and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until almost crisp. Remove the bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion and bell pepper to the pan. Cook until softened, approximately 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning.
• Turn off the heat. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, lemon zest, parsley and clams to the pan tossing to combine thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Fill the clam shell halves with a tablespoon of stuffing and arrange on a baking sheet stuffing side up. Top each clam shell with a piece of bacon. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake the clams casino at 450 degrees for 5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, if desired prior to serving.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• For the stuffing: Over medium heat, melt butter in a heavy bottom skillet until it starts to foam. Add bacon, shallots, and garlic and cook until bacon is cooked and vegetables are translucent, about 6 minutes. Pour in vermouth and stir, scraping bottom of skillet. Reduce heat to low. Add breadcrumbs, Parmesan and parsley. Cook until mixture comes together, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• For the clams: Preheat broiler. Place clams on a sheet tray and place them on the middle rack in the oven. Broil until all of the clams have opened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from oven, discard top shells and release clam meats from bottom shells. Add clam "liquor" (juices) to the stuffing.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon stuffing into each clam shell, covering the clam meats. Place clams back in the oven on the middle rack and broil until stuffing is golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with fresh lemon juice and serve.

BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place clams in a bucket of cold water with cornmeal and salt. Set aside.
• Place bread crumbs, Parmesan, lemon juice, zest, garlic, pesto, parsley, and olive oil in a bowl. Mix all of the ingredients together with half of the clarified butter. Mix together until moist but not too wet. Use additional butter only if needed.
• Open each clam and place mixture on top. Place in oven and bake for 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until crisp and golden, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a plate. Add the bell pepper, shallots, garlic, and oregano to the same skillet and saute until the shallots are tender and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until it is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and cool completely. Stir the reserved pancetta and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese into the vegetable mixture. Season the mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Line a heavy large baking sheet with foil. Arrange the clams in the reserved shells on the baking sheet. Spoon the vegetable mixture atop the clams, dividing equally and mounding slightly. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan. Bake until the clams are just cooked through and the topping is golden, about 10 minutes.
• Arrange the clams on the platter and serve.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Hold the clams in a cloth and insert a knife between the shells. Pry the shells apart, then sever the hinge muscle and discard the top shell. Loosen the muscle in the lower shell. Put clams on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until topping is prepared.
• Put the andouille in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Heat the vegetable oil in a small saute pan and, when hot, add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and the fat is rendered. Transfer to a mixing bowl and allow to cool.
• In a small bowl combine the butter with the garlic, parsley, the Essence, lemon juice and cooled andouille. Stir to blend thoroughly, then transfer to plastic wrap or waxed paper and roll into a tight cylinder about 1-inch in diameter. Refrigerate until firm.
• Heat the broiler.
• Remove the clams from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Top each clam with a pat of the garlic butter, then divide the bread crumbs evenly among the clams. Top each clam with 1 piece of the bacon and broil until the bacon is crispy and the clams are cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Arrange the clams on a platter and garnish with more parsley. Serve hot or warm.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
• Published by William Morrow, 1993.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Saute the peppers, shallots and garlic in a medium saute pan briefly in 2 tablespoons of the butter to soften slightly (1 minute maximum). Season this mixture with salt, cayenne and fresh pepper and remove to a plate to cool off. Blend the butter, the cooled off vegetables, parsley and lemon juice in a bowl. Dab a generous amount of this butter mix on each clam, sprinkle with fresh bread crumbs and top with a small piece of bacon. Run under the broiler to heat the clams and brown the bacon. You could also bake the clams in a 425 degree oven for 5 minutes to obtain the same result.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook bacon until crisp over medium heat. Crumble, and set aside.
• Wash clams. Place on a baking sheet. Heat in a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 1 to 2 minutes, or until clams open. Discard any that do not open. Remove meat from shells. Chop, and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil and butter to a small skillet, and place pan over medium heat. Add onion, pepper, and garlic; saute until tender. Remove from heat, and cool.
• In a medium bowl, combine bread crumbs, bacon, oregano, cheese, sauteed vegetables, and chopped clams. Mix well. Fill clam shells with mixture, and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with parsley and paprika. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 7 minutes. Serve.