Venetian Curried Clams Recipes

Steps:

• Finely chop onion and scrub clams In a 5- to 6-quart heavy kettle heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion and gingerroot, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add spices and salt and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add coconut milk and bring to a gentle boil. Add clams and boil mixture gently, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams are opened, 6 to 8 minutes. (Discard any unopened clams.)
• Serve clams in bowls with cooking liquid and sprinkle with lime juice, cilantro, and grated coconut.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat a large oven proof skillet over high heat. Add the clams, onions, curry powder and butter. Toss until onions start to brown. Top the clams with all the remaining ingredients except the heavy cream and scallions. Bring to a boil, transfer to the oven and roast for 9 minutes, turn the clams and roast for about 9 to 10 minutes longer, until they pop open. Transfer the clams and most of the solids to 2 serving bowls. On the stovetop, over a medium high flame, add the cream to the liquid left in the skillet. Stir constantly until the cream is completely incorporated. Divide the liquid between the 2 bowls, top with scallions and serve immediately with a generous spoonful of rice per bowl.
• Note: Instead of rice, you may serve the clams with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta. If you would like to serve the clams as an appetizer, divide among 4 bowls and omit the rice.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a saute pan, over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook the onions and garlic until soft and glossy, just beginning to brown. Add the tomatoes, cayenne and saffron, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the clams, mussels and white wine. Cover and continue to cook for another 3 minutes. Uncover and remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Reserve.
• In another saute pan, over high heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Saute eggplant slices until lightly browned. Add green and yellow zucchini. Cook another 1 minute, just until heated. Add 1 tablespoon of chiffonade of basil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reserve.
• Season sea bass fillets with salt and pepper. In another saute pan, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Sear fillets, meat next to the bone side down first, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer pan to oven and continue to cook another 4 minutes. Transfer to burner, turn fillets. Add butter and baste.
• To serve: spoon 1/4 of the tomato sauce on plate. Place 1/4 of the Sauteed vegetable slices in the center and top with a piece of sea bass. Garnish with diced bell pepper and remaining chiffonade of basil. Drizzle Basil Oil around edge of tomato sauce.
• In boiling salted water, blanch basil leaves for 2 seconds. Refresh in bowl of iced water and drain well. Place on baking tray lined with paper towel and let dry for 1 hour. Pour oil in a blender. Turn machine on to puree and slowly add the blanched basil. Continue to process until pureed and well blended. Transfer to a squirt bottle and allow to steep for a few hours. Use as needed.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Boil the pasta until al dente, tender but still firm.
• While the pasta cooks, make the clam sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the wine and water and increase the heat to high. Add the clams, cover, and cook, gently shaking the pan periodically, until all the clams are opened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add butter or extra-virgin olive oil, if desired. Pour the clam sauce over the pasta, scatter with the parsley and toss. Season with salt, to taste. Divide among heated bowls and serve immediately, garnished with Fried Zucchini Coins.
• Line a dish with paper towels and set aside. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, basil, salt, cayenne, and pepper in a bowl.
• Beat the eggs in another bowl.
• Heat 1/4-inch vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
• Working in small batches, toss the zucchini coins in the eggs, then coat in the cornmeal mixture to cover completely. Carefully drop the zucchini into the oil, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side or until crisp. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared plate. Season with salt, cool slightly and serve.

Steps:

• Warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Increase the heat to high, add the white wine, and simmer until reduced by 1/2, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the clams, cover, and cook until the shells open, 3 to 5 minutes. Discard any that do not open. Season with salt and pepper. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain, and toss immediately with the clams, their sauce, the chopped parsley, and the Calabrian peppers or pepper flakes. Garnish with parsley sprigs, and serve immediately.

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.