Baked Clams - make with butter, garlic and a dash of hot sauce is the best! Not only are they easy to make, but are a great pantry staple. Keep canned clams and bread crumbs on hand and whip these up for a crowd in a jiffy.
Course Appetizer
Prep Time 15minutes
Cook Time 30minutes
Total Time 45minutes
Servings 4people (6 clams each)
Author Homemade Italian Cooking with Cara
Ingredients
1stick butter
3clovesgarlic chopped
2heads shallots minced
1bay leaf
¼cupolive oil
12squirts tabasco hot sauceor season to taste
1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce
1teaspoonground pepper
zest and juice of one lemon
1/4cupminced flat leaf parsley
24clam shellscleaned (or scallop shells for baking)
4cans6.5 oz chopped clams, with juice
1 ½cupbreadcrumbs
Instructions
In a large glass measuring cup, melt butter with garlic and shallots for 1 minute in microwave. This will soften the garlic and shallots. Add bay leaf, olive oil, tabasco & Worcestershire sauces, pepper, lemon zest and juice and parsley. Stir to combine.
Lay the shells on a baking pan lined with a silicone mat or foil.
Add 1 heaping tablespoon of clams to each shell with some juice. Next add to the clams a tablespoon of the butter mixture and be sure to include a bit of garlic and shallots to each shell. Last cover the clams/butter in each shell with a scant tablespoon of breadcrumbs.
Bake 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
Serve immediately.
TIP: to clean shells after eating, let them soak in warm water and Dawn for 30 minutes. They will clean right up. Dry and reuse for next time.