You can never go wrong with fresh seafood recipes, whether it’s air fryer shrimp, almond crusted salmon, grilled lobster, bacon wrapped scallops or these flavorful clams in a butter and herb sauce. I always order steamed clams as an appetizer when I go to restaurants, but I’ve learned that this dish is actually super quick and easy to make at home! You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how simple it is to put a fabulous and flavorful meal on the table.
Steamed Clams Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need clams, butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, white wine, salt, black pepper, lemon juice and fresh herbs. I typically use littlenecks for the clams, but any smaller variety such as cherrystones will work.
How Do You Make Steamed Clams?
Melt butter in a pan, then add a generous amount of garlic and a pinch of red chili flakes. Add a good quality white wine, then bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the clams to the pan, then cover with a lid and cook until the clams are open. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve immediately and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Steamed Clams
I recommend buying your littleneck clams the same day that you plan to cook them. If you need to store the clams for a longer period of time, place them in an open container in the refrigerator and cover them with damp paper towels. Be sure to discard any clams that have not opened during the cooking process, as they are not good to eat. Plan on purchasing 1 pound of clams per person to serve as a main course, or 1/2 pound per person to serve as an appetizer. I like to serve my steamers with a side of bread to soak up the broth, but you can also serve this dish over angel hair pasta with great results. You can also serve an Italian salad, panzanella salad, Hasselback sweet potatoes or cucumber salad on the side.
Flavor Variations
This clam recipe is delicious as-is, but you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Shellfish: This recipe also works great with mussels, or you can use a combination of mussels and clams. Meat: Feel free to add some cooked and diced bacon, Spanish chorizo or pancetta to your clams. Beans: Stir in some canned chickpeas or white beans for a heartier meal. Vegetables: Add some sauteed vegetables to the clams such as fennel, red bell peppers or thinly sliced red onion. Another great option is fresh or canned diced tomatoes.
Whenever I have a hankering for a taste of the sea, I whip up a pot of these succulent clams. The seafood lovers in your life will adore this recipe!
Steamed Clams Video
