Grilled Clambake Recipes

Steps:

• Slice the kielbasa diagonally into 1-inch thick slices. Set aside. Saute the onions and leeks in the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed 16 to 20 quart stockpot over medium heat for 15 minutes, until the onions start to brown.
• Layer the ingredients on top of the onions in the stockpot in this order: first the potatoes, salt, and pepper; then the kielbasa, little neck clams, steamer clams, mussels, shrimp, and lobsters. Pour in the white wine. Cover the pot tightly and cook over medium-high heat until steam just begins to escape from the lid, about 15 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and cook another 15 minutes. The clambake should be done. Test to be sure the potatoes are tender, the lobsters are cooked, and the clams and mussels are open. Remove the lobsters to a wooden board, cut them up, and crack the claws. With large slotted spoons, remove the seafood, potatoes, and sausages to a large bowl and top with the lobsters. Season the broth in the pot to taste, and ladle over the seafood, being very careful to avoid any sand in the bottom.

Steps:

• Toss the basil, dill and chives in a small bowl. Whisk the mayonnaise with half the serrano, the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 grated garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons water in a medium bowl. Stir in 2/3 cup of the herbs (set aside the rest for topping). Cover and refrigerate.
• Using kitchen shears, cut along the outer curve of the shrimp shells from the head end to 1/4 inch from the tail. Remove the top vein and rinse the shrimp under cold water (leave the shrimp in their shells). Transfer to a large bowl and add 6 cups cold water, 3 tablespoons salt and the sugar; stir. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Put the clams in a separate bowl, add enough cold water to cover and stir in 1/4 cup salt; cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss the potatoes with 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Place the potatoes in a single layer in the center of a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Wrap and seal into a packet, then wrap in another piece of foil to cover the seam side. Grill, flipping, until the potatoes are charred and tender, about 20 minutes per side. Keep wrapped.
• Meanwhile, set aside a 4-inch piece of sausage for the clams. Grill the remaining sausage until charred, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Let cool, then cut into 3-inch pieces; cover to keep warm. Grill the corn, turning, until charred, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then cut each ear in half crosswise. Drain the shrimp and grill in batches until lightly charred, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Toss the corn and shrimp with the melted butter and the remaining grated garlic clove. Cover and set aside.
• Drain and rinse the clams. Slice the reserved sausage 1/4 inch thick. Heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on the grill. Add the sliced sausage and cook, tossing, until just starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the fennel, shallots and the remaining serrano and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the 4 sliced garlic cloves and the tomato paste and cook until the tomato paste turns brick red, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the clams, cover and cook until all the clams have opened, 5 to 10 minutes. (Discard any unopened clams.)
• Combine the corn, shrimp, grilled sausage and potatoes on a large platter. Leave the clams in the skillet. Serve with lemon wedges, the reserved herbs and the herbed mayonnaise.

Steps:

• Place clams in a large bowl of heavily salted cold water. Let soak 20 minutes. Drain and scrub any clams that are still dirty or sandy.
• Pulse butter, miso, ginger, lime zest, and red pepper flakes in a food processor until smooth and well incorporated. Set aside half of miso butter for serving. Transfer remaining miso butter to a small bowl.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Arrange 2 layers of 2 large pieces of foil on a work surface, overlapping to create one large surface area. Place potatoes in center of foil in 1 layer and dot with 2 Tbsp. miso butter. Season with 1 3/4 tsp. salt. Fold up sides of foil, then crimp and fold to seal. Transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Arrange 2 more layers of 2 large pieces of foil in the same way to create 1 large surface area. Place half of clams in center of foil, dot with 1 1/2 Tbsp. miso butter, and enclose in a purse shape (so you can take a peek at clams when cooking). Repeat with more foil and remaining clams. Transfer both packets of clams to pan with potatoes.
• Arrange shrimp, corn, and scallions on another large rimmed baking sheet in separate sections. Drizzle with oil; season with 1 1/4 tsp. salt. Toss to coat.
• Grill potatoes, turning every 5 minutes, until tender when pricked with a toothpick, about 25 minutes total. Return potatoes in foil back to baking sheet to keep warm.
• After potatoes have been cooking for 10 minutes, grill corn, brushing occasionally with miso butter and turning every 3-4 minutes, until charred in some spots, about 10 minutes total. Return corn to baking sheet and cover with foil to keep warm. Grill clams until they open, 10-15 minutes. Transfer to pan with potatoes and corn.
• Grill scallions and shrimp, brushing with miso butter and turning once halfway through, until scallions are charred and shrimp is cooked through, 4-6 minutes, depending on their size. Return to baking sheet.
• Cut each ear of corn into 4 pieces and divide between 2 platters. Divide potatoes, shrimp, scallions, and clams between platters, then pour clam juices over. Top with cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve with reserved miso butter, lime wedges, and lots of napkins.
• Do Ahead: Miso butter can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Potato packets and clam packets can be grilled 1 day ahead. Enclose packets and chill.

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for very high heat.
• Tap any open clams; if they stay open, throw them out. Place the closed clams on the grill grate. Grill, covered, until the clams open, about 2 minutes. Carefully transfer all the opened clams to a bowl; throw out any clams that remain closed. Be careful not to lose any of the liquid in the shells-that's where the flavor is.

Steps:

• Make sure the clams and mussels are all alive. The shells should be tightly closed. If they're open, they should close when you tap them. If any remain open, discard.
• Build a fire in your covered grill and soak a couple handfuls of wood chips in water. Put the potatoes and onions in cold, salted water, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes, till potatoes have softened. Drain. Pull the husks back from the corn but leave them attached. Pull off all the silks, then pull the husks back into place and tie around the corn with a strip of husk.
• Drop the lobsters in boiling water for about 3 minutes till they're bright red. Remove from water.
• When the coals have burned down to red-hot, spread the wet wood chips across them. Lay the lobsters close together on the grill rack, spread the shellfish around them, and spread the vegetables over the top, ending with the asparagus lying in a single layer at the top. Put the lid on the grill and open the vents. Cook for about a half hour, until the mussels and clams have opened. Serve with bowls of melted butter.

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, or on a cutting board using flat part of a knife, mash together garlic and salt until a paste forms. Scrape paste into a small bowl and stir in butter, lemon juice and cayenne. Taste and make sure salt and lemon are balanced.
• Preheat grill. Place clams directly on grill grate or on a large baking pan in a single layer. Cover grill and let clams cook for 2 minutes. Open grill and check clams, using tongs to remove any that have opened, and transfer them to a large bowl. Be careful not to spill clams' juices when transferring them. Close grill lid and check every 30 seconds, removing clams as they open.
• Pour lemon-cayenne butter over clam bowl and toss lightly. Serve hot, garnished with chives.