Classic Clams Casino Recipes

Steps:

• Soak the clams in cold water to purge any sand, about 20 minutes. Then scrub them clean to remove any dirt or barnacles from the outer shells and then drain.
• Add the white wine and cleaned clams to a large saucepan. Cover and heat over medium. After a few minutes, check to see if any of the clams have opened. Once they start opening, remove the opened clams to a large bowl to cool. Cover the pot and wait another minute or so before checking to see if any more clams have opened. Discard any clams that don't open after 5 minutes. Once all the clams have been removed, turn the heat down to low and let the white wine and clam juice mixture reduce until there is about 1/3 cup of liquid left.
• In the meantime, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to render its fat and slightly browns, about 2 minutes. Next, add the shallots and bell pepper. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Use a small fine-mesh sieve to strain the 1/3 cup of white wine-clam juice mixture into the skillet. Stir to combine and cook until the mixture is slightly reduced and cohesive, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool slightly.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and preheat the oven to broil.
• Mix the panko, olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Carefully remove the top shell from each clam and use a spoon to loosen the meat from the bottom shell. Place the meat back into the bottom shell and then onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Divide the bacon mixture evenly among the clams, using a spoon to pack the mixture tightly into the shell. Top each of the clams with about 1 teaspoon of the panko mixture.
• Transfer the clams to the broiler and cook until the breadcrumbs are just golden brown, 30 seconds to a 1 minute. Keep an eye on them as the browning can happen quite quickly.
• Remove the clams from the oven and use tongs to transfer them to a serving plate. Garnish with chopped chives. Serve immediately.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Tear bread slices into pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until coarse crumbs form (you should have about 2 cups).
• Preheat broiler with rack 6 to 7 inches below heating element. Arrange shellfish in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil just until shells begin to open, 4 to 6 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, remove top shells, taking care not to get any shell in meat, and discard. Tip out any oyster and clam liquor still in shells onto baking sheet. Loosen meat from shells with an oyster knife; transfer (still in shells) to another parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Strain shellfish liquor from first sheet through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup. Fill shells with liquor (you may not need it all).
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic and bell pepper; saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vermouth; boil until mostly evaporated. Add breadcrumbs and oregano; cook, stirring occasionally, until breadcrumbs turn golden and crisp in places, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley and cheese; season with pepper. Divide breadcrumb mixture evenly among shellfish, then top evenly with pancetta.
• Broil just until crisp and golden brown on top, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve warm on a platter lined with rock salt.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Spread salt into an oven-safe metal serving platter or a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Shuck clams, reserving bottom shells; drain liquid (save for another use). Arrange clams in salt-lined pan., Combine the bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons parsley, oil, garlic, cayenne and pepper; spoon over clams., Bake 15-18 minutes or until clams are firm and bread crumb mixture is crisp and golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 500°F. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, 5-7 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels, reserving fat in skillet. Let cool, then break into 1/2" pieces.
• Purée shallots and bell pepper in a food processor until finely chopped. Add shallot mixture to bacon fat; season with 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and cook, stirring, until liquid is evaporated and mixture begins to look dry, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Toss panko with oil and parsley in a small bowl; season lightly with salt. Spread a layer of salt on a rimmed baking sheet and arrange clams over to keep steady. Top each clam with a level 1/2 tsp. shallot mixture (you may have extra), then top with bacon and breadcrumb mixture. Roast until breadcrumbs are lightly toasted and clams are just cooked through, 6-8 minutes.

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in skillet until crisp.
• Drain excess fat, roughly chop, and set aside.
• Next, mix the softened butter, shallots, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, salt and cayenne until combined well.
• Arrange the clams in your largest skillet in a single layer.
• Please feel free to steam the clams in batches if they don't all fit in your pan.
• Add a cup or so of water, cover, bring to a boil, and steam clams until their shells just begin to open.
• Remember, the clams will be finished under the broiler, so don't let them go too long in the pan after they begin to open!
• Once the clams are cool enough to handle, twist off the top shell and discard.
• Slide a sharp knife under each clam to loosen it from the bottom shell.
• Line baking sheets or broiler pans with a crumpled large piece of foil - this allows you to press the shells into the foil so they are less likely to tip over.
• Spread about ¼ tsp of seasoned butter on each clam, top with chopped bacon, and ½ tsp of breadcrumbs.
• Arrange clams on baking sheet.
• The clams can be prepared up to this point, and them covered and refrigerated up to 4 hours until ready to broil.
• When ready to serve, preheat broiler.
• Broil clams until crumbs are toasted, and butter is melted and sizzling, about 3-4 minutes.
• Serve warm.

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.

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until it begins to brown but is not crisp, transfer it with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, and discard the fat from the skillet. In the skillet, wiped clean, cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat until they are softened, add the bell peppers and the orégano, and cook the mixture, stirring, until the bell peppers are crisp-tender. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and stir in the bacon, the vinegar, the Parmesan, and salt and black pepper to taste. The bell pepper mixture may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Arrange the clams in the reserved shells in a jelly-roll pan filled with some of the coarse salt (to balance the shells), divide the bell pepper mixture among them, and bake the clams in a preheated 400°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are just cooked through. Arrange the clams on a platter filled with more of the coarse salt.

Steps:

• Drain clams, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. In a large bowl, combine the clams and remaining ingredients; stir in the reserved clam juice. Spoon into greased 6-oz. custard cups or clamshell dishes; place on baking sheets. , Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and lightly browned.