Seared Clams With Brown Butter Recipes

MUSSELS AND CLAMS WITH SIZZLING BROWN BUTTER AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Wash clams well. Wash mussels, making sure to remove and discard their beards. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in each of 2 large cast iron frying pans over high heat. Add clams and half the thyme to 1 of the pans; add mussels and half of the thyme to the other pan; cook for 1 minute. Divide butter and capers between the 2 pans. Continue cooking clams and mussels for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they open.
• To serve, place clams mussels and the butter in which they cooked in a warmed serving bowl and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve with bread on the side, to soak up the butter at the bottom of the bowl.

SEARED CLAMS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat butter in a saucepan, over medium heat, until it turns brown and is fragrant; remove from heat, stir in juice from one lemon, and set aside.
• Heat a large griddle, or cast iron skillet, over high heat; once very hot, coat with olive oil and place clams, hinge side down, if possible, on griddle or skillet.
• Cook until they open, about 5 minutes; turn over and cook until the meat just starts to brown ( cook in batches, if necessary).
• Transfer clams to a serving platter.
• Reheat butter sauce, stir in chives, and season with pepper; spoon over clams.

RAZOR CLAMS SEARED WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Put butter in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it smells fragrant and turns nut-brown. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and set aside.
• Put a large griddle or cast-iron skillet over high heat. When very hot, slick with olive oil. Place clams, hinge-side down if possible, on pan. Cook about 5 minutes, until clams open. Turn clams over and cook until the meat just starts to brown. You may need to do this in two shifts, or in two pans. Transfer clams to serving platter. Reheat butter, stir in chives and pepper and spoon over clams.

TURBOT WITH BROWN BUTTER AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the turbot on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a few tablespoons of canola oil in a large saute pan over high heat. When you see a wisp of smoke, add the fillets to the pan (do not overcrowd the pan to achieve a proper sear, so cook in batches if you have to). Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the butter per fillet to the pan. Cook the turbot on both sides until lightly golden brown and just cooked through, about 2 minutes total. Remove to a plate.
• Deglaze the pan with the white wine over medium-high heat and let cook all the way down to a dry pan. Add the remaining butter to the saute pan and cook until slightly golden brown. Add the capers and lemon juice, and then add the fish back to the pan. Baste the fish with some of the sauce to warm. Remove from heat, add the tarragon and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
• Put each fillet on a plate and spoon the sauce over the fish. Garnish with the lemon zest and a sprig of tarragon.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH JALAPEñO BUTTER

Steps:

• Scrub the clams under cold running water to remove grit and sand, then set aside.
• Melt 2 teaspoons of the butter in a large pot set over medium heat. Add the bacon, if using, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it has started to crisp, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add the beer to the pot, and allow to heat through, then carefully add the clams in layers. Cover the pot, and let the clams steam and open, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• While the clams cook, put a small pot over medium heat, and add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. When it melts, add the jalapeños and stir to combine. Keep the butter warm until ready to use.
• Drain the clams, reserving their liquor, and serve them on a platter, with the reserved clam broth and the melted butter.