Venetian Curried Clams Recipes

ONE-POT SPICY CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and serrano and continue to cook until the pot is almost dry and the sauce is thick, about 3 minutes more. Add the wine, increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Add the clams; cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until the clams open, 7 to 9 minutes. Adjust the seasoning of the broth with a pinch of salt. Serve the clams and broth in shallow bowls with crusty bread.

VENETIAN COFFEE

Steps:

• Pour amaretto and sambuca into a footed, glass coffee mug. Fill mug with coffee and top with whipped cream.
• *Semi-Homemaker's Tip: To make flavored coffee, add a teaspoon of flavored extract to your coffee grounds before brewing.

VICKY'S CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat a big pot with tight fitting lid over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic and pancetta and brown pancetta for 3 minutes. Add clams to the pot and 1 cup of wine. Cover and let the clams steam until they open, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard any unopened shells. Transfer clams in juices and wine to a serving platter and top liberally with parsley, serve.

ALMEJAS A LA MARINERA (SAILOR'S CLAMS)

Steps:

• Scrub the clams under cold running water, discarding any that fail to close to the touch. In a large bowl, combine the clams, a handful of coarse salt and enough water to cover the clams. Let stand for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours so that the clams release any sand trapped in their shells. Drain and set aside the clams.
• Then, in a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute, stirring often, until golden, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in the paprika and breadcrumbs and saute a couple of minutes longer, until the ingredients are very fragrant and golden. Add the clams, white wine and clam broth. Cover and let steam for a few minutes, just until the clams open. Discard any clams that don't open.
• Check the broth for seasoning. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve the clams with their broth and some crusty sourdough bread on the side. Lemon wedges are optional.

CLAMS WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Wash and vigorously scrub the littlenecks under cold running water. Place them on a tray, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside until ready to serve. Finely chop the shucked cherrystones and set them aside, refrigerate. Pour the clam liquor through a strainer lined with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth. Add enough additional clam juice or water to make the liquid up to 5 1/2 cups. Set aside, refrigerate. Place the quinoa in a bowl and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Let soak for 5 minutes, then massage the grain between the palms of your hands for a moment. Strain through a fine strainer, rinse with cold running water, and repeat the soaking and rubbing process. Set the quinoa aside to drain.
• In a large casserole with a cover, preferably earthenware, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute until it is totally translucent but not browned, about 8 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the garlic, chiles, bay leaf, cumin, and pepper. Stir over the heat for 2 minutes more, or until the aroma of the garlic is released. Add the tomato paste, chopped clams, and potatoes and stir together to mix. Pour in 4 1/2 cups of the reserved clam juice, bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the quinoa and cook for 25 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
• While the quinoa is cooking, in another large saucepan reduce the white wine by half over medium heat. Add the garlic, salt, pepper flakes, julienned red pepper, and the remaining 1/2 cup clam juice and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the littlenecks, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the clams have barely opened, gently stirring the mixture once during the cooking time. Mound the quinoa mixture onto a large platter and spoon the littlenecks, with all of their juice and the peppers, over the top. Scatter the cilantro over and serve immediately.

VENETIAN CURRIED CLAMS

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.

VENETIAN STYLE POLENTA CAKES WITH CAVOLINI DI BRUXELLES RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 6-quart stock pot combine the water and heavy cream and bring to a boil. Slowly add the polenta in a thin stream while stirring to prevent lumps from forming. Reduce the heat to a low flame and slowly incorporate the semolina flour. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Allow to cool for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil 6 (3-inch) individual cake pans.
• Take the cooled polenta and pack into the prepared cake pans. Place the polenta cakes on a half sheet pan and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before unmolding.
• In a large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and lightly cook the onions and pancetta, if using, until golden brown. Add the Brussels sprouts and thyme sprigs. Place in preheated oven and roast until soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Remove the thyme.
• In a separate pan, combine the baby carrots with equal parts oil and water to cover. Slowly bring to a simmer and cook until tender. Remove the carrots from the oil and combine with the Brussels sprouts.
• To finish, reheat the polenta cakes in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. As the polenta is cooking, slowly reheat the Brussels sprouts and carrots. Just before serving, place the polenta cakes in a bowl. Finish the Brussels sprouts and carrots with the red wine vinegar and salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the vegetables around the polenta cakes in the bowl.

BEER-BRAISED RIBS WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put the rib racks on a work surface bone-side up. Slip a knife between the bone and membrane, then pull off the membrane. Cut each rack of ribs in half; season evenly with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the ribs, bone-side up, and sear until brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Lower the heat to medium, add the celery, carrots and onion and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped garlic and tomato paste; cook 2 minutes. Add the beer and bay leaf, bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Return the ribs to the pot, add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Trim a piece of parchment paper to fit the pot, then place directly on top of the ribs and cover with a lid. Transfer to the oven and braise 1 hour, then remove the lid and parchment. Continue braising until the ribs are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour more.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15 minutes; drain.
• Remove the rib racks from the pot; let cool slightly, then cut into the ribs. Strain the cooking liquid, discarding the solids; skim off some fat. Return the liquid to the pot.
• Add the smashed garlic and tomato to the pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the clams, cover and cook until some just open, 5 minutes. Add the potatoes and ribs, cover and cook until all the clams open, 10 to 15 more minutes (discard any unopened clams). Stir in the parsley and lemon juice. Serve with lemon wedges.

NEW ENGLAND STEAMED CLAMS

Steps:

• Rinse clams several times in cold, running water. Soak them in salted or seawater with a few handfuls of cornmeal for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse again.
• Fill a steamer with 1-inch cold water, celery and parsley and bring to a boil. Add clams all at once. Bring back to a boil, then cook for about 4 minutes, shaking the pot from time to time, until clams open. (If you wish, cook 3 to 4 minutes longer, to kill off harmful bacteria that may exist.)
• Remove steamers with a spider or a large slotted spoon to serving bowls. Open spigot of steamer and strain broth into small bowls for serving. If your steamer does not have a spigot, ladle broth into bowls, leaving behind any debris. Serve steamers immediately with broth and hot melted butter for dipping.

GOAN CURRIED CLAMS

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.