John Mitovitch And Thom Serranis Clams Casino Recipes

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain and chop fine. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, stir together the butter, shallots, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne until combined. Set aside.
• Arrange the clams in a single layer in a large skillet pan, cover, and steam over high heat until their shells just begin to open, about 5 to 8 minutes. (Do this in batches if needed.) Set aside. When cool enough to handle, remove the top shells and discard. Slide a knife under each clam to loosen it in the shell.
• Crumple a large piece of aluminum foil and spread it out on a baking sheet. (The creases in the foil help keep the clams from tipping over.) Spread about a 1/4 teaspoon of the seasoned butter on top of each clam, top with some of the bacon, and about 1/2 teaspoon of the crumbs. Evenly space the clams on the prepared baking sheet. (The clams can be prepared to this point, covered, and refrigerated, up to 4 hours before serving.)
• Place a rack about 4 inches from the broiler element and preheat. Broil the clams until the crumbs are toasted and the butter is sizzling, about 3 to 4 minutes. Serve warm.

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.

JOHN MITOVITCH AND THOM SERRANI'S CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Arrange the clams, shell side down, on a rack or baking dish.
• Combine the two tablespoons soft butter with the Tabasco sauce, scallions, garlic, shallots, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, red and green peppers, mustard, Cognac, salt and pepper. Sprinkle an equal portion of the mixture on top of each clam.
• Put the bacon in a saucepan and add water to cover. Bring to the boil and drain. Pat dry. Cut the bacon into small rectangles and cover each clam with a portion of it. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs and pour the melted butter over all. Place in the oven and bake 20 minutes.

AN AMERICAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Trim off the root end of the leeks. Split the leeks in half and rinse well between the leaves. Pat dry. Cut the leeks into very small dice. There should be about two cups.
• Trim the celery and cut it into small dice. There should be about two cups.
• Trim off the ends of the green beans and cut them into small dice. There should be about two cups.
• Trim and scrape the carrots. Cut them into one-quarter-inch slices. Stack the slices and cut them into one-quarter-inch strips. Cut the strips into one-quarter-inch dice. There should be about one and one-half cups.
• Trim the ends of the zucchini and cut the zucchini into one-half-inch dice. There should be about two cups.
• Heat the butter in a kettle and add the onions and leeks. Cook, stirring, about five minutes. Add the carrots, celery and green beans. Cook, stirring, about three minutes and stir in the crushed tomatoes.
• Add the broth, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Let simmer 20 minutes. Add the zucchini, corn and peas and continue cooking about 10 minutes longer. Serve sprinkled with basil or parsley.

CLAMS & OYSTERS CASINO

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.

CHICKEN CROQUETTES (CROQUETTES DE VOLAILLE)

Steps:

• Remove the meat from the chicken. Discard the skin and bones.
• Chop the chicken meat finely. There should be about two and onehalf cups. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until onion is wilted and sprinkle with the six tablespoons of flour. Stir with a wire whisk. Add the chicken broth and cream, stirring vigorously with the whisk. Add the yolks and cook about 30 seconds, stirring. Add the cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste and one-half cup of the bread crumbs.
• Combine the chopped chicken meat with the sauce. Blend well. Set aside until thoroughly cooled.
• Divide the mixture into 16 equal portions. Shape each portion into a round. Roll the rounds in the remaining one-quarter cup of flour. Shape the rounds into any desired shape: pyramids, cylinders, spheres, or flat cakes.
• Beat the egg with the water. Roll the croquettes in the egg mixture and then in the remaining bread crumbs. Press to help crumbs adhere. Shake off excess.
• Heat the oil for deep frying. Add the croquettes a few at a time and cook about four minutes or until golden brown. Serve, if desired, with mushroom sauce.

CLAMS CASINO WITH BACON AND BELL PEPPER

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.

BLACK-AND-WHITE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Position a rack in the lower third - but not the lowest position - of the oven.
• Put the cream and sugar in a large metal bowl and place it over simmering water. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour one-half cup, plus three tablespoons, of the mixture into a small mixing bowl and set aside.
• Add the chopped chocolate to the remaining mixture in the metal bowl and stir gently over the simmering water until it melts. The mixture may look speckled, but this is normal. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat.
• Beat three of the egg yolks, using an electric mixer, until the yolks are light in color and doubled in volume. Using the lowest speed, add the chocolate mixture.
• Arrange four one-cup, oven-proof ramekins or custard cups in a shallow roasting pan. The cups should not touch. Pour about one-half inch of boiling water around the cups.
• Pour an equal amount of the chocolate mixture into each ramekin. Bake 40 minutes or until the custard is set but soft in the middle.
• Meanwhile, beat the remaining egg yolk slightly and add the reserved unflavored cream-and-sugar mixture. Spoon an equal portion of this mixture on top of each custard. Return to the oven for eight to 10 minutes or until set.
• Remove the ramekins and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until cold.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Combine the brown sugar with enough of the boiling water to make a relatively thin, smooth paste. Using the back of a teaspoon, spread an equal portion of this mixture over the top of each custard. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Place them about three inches under the broiler heat. When the sugar bubbles and begins to brown, remove from the heat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

JOHN'S CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• 1. Partially steam clams just to get them to open (about 2 mins). Carefully shuck clams (remove top shell)
• 2. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray.
• 3. Add bacon to pan, cooking until bacon begins to brown, stirring occasionally.
• 4. Add wine. Cook until liquid evaporates (about 30 seconds), scraping to loosen browned bits.
• 5. Add bell pepper, shallots & garlic to pan. Cook 4 mins or until tender. Place mixture in a medium bowl.
• 6. Add breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley & black pepper to bacon mixture. Stir until blended.
• 7. Cover a baking sheet with foil.
• 8. Take a very sharp knife and make 2 small slits across each clam. Drizzle with a little clam juice to keep them from drying out.
• 9. Place each clam in shell on the foil. ** TIP: To keep them from moving & tipping, simply take a small bowl of sea salt and add a tiny bit of water to just moisten the salt & make it clumpy. Place a small mound on the foil & place a shell on the salt mound. It will stay put better.
• 10. Top each clam with an equal amount of the bacon mixture.
• 11. Broil until tops are browned and clams are done. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

LAMB AND WHITE-BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans or not according to package recommendations.
• Heat the butter in a kettle and add the onion, garlic and lamb shanks. Cook, stirring the onion and turning the shanks, about five minutes.
• Drain the beans and add them to the kettle. Add the water, tomatoes, bay leaf, parsley sprigs, thyme, cloves, peppercorns and salt to taste. Bring to the boil and let simmer two hours.
• Remove the shanks, bay leaf, parsley and thyme sprigs.
• Remove the skin from the shanks. Remove the meat from the bones and shred it or cut it into small bite-size pieces. Return the meat to the soup. Reheat and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.