Pork And Clams Ameijoas Na Cataplana Recipes

PORK AND CLAMS (AMEIJOAS NA CATAPLANA)

Steps:

• Wash clams thoroughly under running water, and discard any that do not close when tapped, which means they are dead.
• Soak overnight in salt water, to expel sand.
• Heat olive oil in a (cataplanda) cast iron dutch oven.
• Fry onions and garlic until soft and golden.
• Add pork and brown on all sides.
• Add clams and dry white wine.
• Increase heat, and cook briskly, shaking pan until wine has reduced.
• Add tomatoes, coriander or parsley, cayenne pepper,salt, and black pepper.
• Cover tightly and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until pork is tender.
• Traditionaly the"Cataplana" (cast iron dutch oven) is brought to the table for serving.

CLAMS IN A CATAPLANA CASA VELHA

Steps:

• Scrub the clams well in cool water, pile in a large deep kettle, add the cold water, salt, and the cornmeal, which acts as an irritant that forces the clams to purge themselves of grit. Let the clams stand in the cold water about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the sauce: Stir-fry the onions, garlic, and green peppers in the oil in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat 8 to 10 minutes until limp and golden. Add the bay leaf, tomatoes, and their juice. Break up any large clumps of tomatoes, bring mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook slowly for 30 minutes; add the tomato sauce, prosciutto, smoked ham, and pepperoni, re-cover, and cook 30 minutes longer. Note: You can make the sauce as much as two days ahead of time but do not buy the clams until the day you plan to serve the cataplana. The sauce should be covered and refrigerated until you are ready to proceed.
• To assemble the cataplana, spoon half the tomato mixture into the bottom of a very large cataplana (it should measure about 15 inches across) or into a large heavy Dutch-oven type of kettle, and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Adjust the heat so that the mixture barely boils, arrange the clams on top, spoon in the remaining tomato sauce, cover tight, and cook 10 minutes over moderately low heat - no peeking. Open the cataplana or kettle, pour in the wine, scatter the parsley evenly on top, then toss the clams lightly. Re-cover and cook slowly 15 to 20 minutes longer until the clams open - discard any that do not.
• Carry the cataplana or kettle to the table, open, and ladle into large soup plates. Serve with Pão or other rough country bread. Note: Be sure to put out a large bowl for empty clam shells.

PORK WITH CLAMS (LOMBO DE PORCO COM AMEIJOAS)

Steps:

• Blitz the peppers with the garlic and salt, pour the oil in slowly and continue blending till all is a smooth paste.
• Put pork in a non metallic bowl. Mix the garlic into the red pepper paste and add the wine,and coriander stir well then pour over the pork.
• Marinate overnight in the fridge.
• Remove the pork from the sauce with a slotted spoon, set the sauce to one side.
• Heat the bacon fat in a pot and fry the pork till browned all over, remove pork from the pot.
• Cook the onion in the bacon fat till just soft, but, not browned.
• Return the pork to the pot, add the reserved marinade, and, bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the clams, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove any clams that do not open.
• Serve with fries or fresh crusty bread.