Clams Valentino Recipes

PORK AND CLAMS

Steps:

• In a small food processor, combine garlic, salt, pepper flakes and paprika. Process until smooth. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until smooth. In a glass mixing bowl, toss the meat with the pureed mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator, to marinate at least 8 hours, overnight if possible. In a cataplana (or a large saute pan with a lid), over medium heat, add the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Season with salt. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the pork and saute for 4 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a simmer. Add the clams, and season with salt. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Remove from the heat and leave covered for 5 minutes. Remove any shells that do not open. Stir in the parsley. Serve in individual serving bowls with crusty bread.

BRAISED CLAMS WITH SHRIMP AND CHORIZO

Steps:

• In a saute pan on medium, heat olive oil. Add cloves, shallots, and chorizo, and cook for 30 seconds. Add clams and shrimp. Add white wine and reduce by half. Add clam juice and cover with another pan and steam until all clams open. Finish with butter and herbs. Serve in a large bowl with Garlic Bread.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• In a saute pan over medium high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook until the garlic is a toasty brown color. Remove the garlic oil from the heat and brush onto both sides of the bread. Place the bread on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, or until bread is golden brown.

LINGIUNE WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a 4-quart pot, steam the clams in the water until they are all open, about 10 minutes. Scoop out the clams and remove the top shell from each one. Gently cook the garlic in olive oil in a saucepan for 4 minutes and carefully pour in the clam-cooking liquid, leaving the sand behind in the pot. Add the parsley and season with freshly ground pepper to taste. Put the clams in the same sauce and cover to keep the warm. Boil and drain the pasta, divide among hot bowls, and ladle on the calms with their sauce.

CLAMS CASINO

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.