30 Clam Recipes to Master (2024)

FAQs

How many clams per person? ›

Plan on one to two dozen per person for your party. This is usually a good gauge for estimating how many clams you need to buy. The Littleneck clam, also known as a quahog or hard-shell clam, is native to the eastern shores of North America all along the Atlantic coast.

Let the clams cook in the steam from the boiling water for about 5 to 10 minutes, until the steamer clam shells are wide open, then remove the pot from the heat. Any steamers that didn't open should be discarded.

Soft-shell clam size varies from 2 inches in length or greater, so a good estimate is generally 12-15 clams per pound. If you order too many, you can always keep fresh live clams refrigerated for 2-3 days after the arrival of shipment. You can fry what you don't steam—that's what your favorite seafood restaurants do.

clams [plural] US slang, somewhat old-fashioned : dollars. He won 20 clams [=(more commonly) bucks] playing poker.

For those looking to maintain a healthy weight without compromising on protein intake, clams are a fantastic option. They offer a substantial amount of protein with relatively low-calorie content, making them a smart choice for those focused on weight management and overall well-being.

First, fill a large pot with water. A good rule of thumb is about ½ cup of water for every pound of clams in the pot. Alternatively, you can use clam broth, chicken broth, white wine, or another preferred cooking liquid for a little extra flavor. Now's the time to add your favorite fresh herbs to the pot too.

Clams are filter feeders. The reason they have sand and grit in them is because they live buried in sand or mud. This proximity to grit naturally gets the stuff into the clams, which filter with their shells partially open — which is how the sand or mud gets in.

2. Soak your clams for 20 minutes in fresh water just before cooking.

Rinsing can help wash off excess salt from the mollusks. On the other hand, while these are certainly great reasons to rinse your canned clams, some say that rinsing can dilute their flavor, even suggesting that you save the juice from the can for use as a flavor booster in your recipe.

Bacterial Contamination: Clams that don't open during cooking might be harboring bacteria or viruses. While the heat can kill these pathogens, the toxins produced by some bacteria can remain and pose serious health risks if consumed.

Are canned chopped clams already cooked? ›

Canned clams are already perfectly cooked, so adding them to favorite meals helps get dinner on the table quickly. Potassium – Helps counter the effects of sodium in the diet. A 3-ounce serving has about 125 milligrams.

A 100g portion of steamed clams (the meat of about 10 small clams) contains 148 calories, 25.5g of protein, 2.0g of fat, and 5.1g of carbohydrates. Clams are also an excellent source of iron, zinc, selenium, and B12.

Clams offer nutritional benefits, but eating too many may be harmful. Clams' health risks include high cholesterol, consuming with too much butter, eating raw clams and having an allergic reaction. Check out these risks to ensure that you're consuming clams in a healthy way.

One pound will get you about 12-15 clams. The best way to clear the grit out of steamer clams is to put them into a large bowl or basin and add ⅓ cup sea salt to 1 gallon of cold water ratio.

Gabriel Frasca's One-Pot Clambake

When shopping, Frasca says to plan for one lobster, half a dozen clams, two red bliss potatoes, one ear of corn, and about 2 ounces of chorizo per person. Cooking times will remain largely the same regardless of quantity.