Baked Clams Oreganata Recipes

BAKED CLAMS OREGANATE

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Place rack in lowest setting, or about 12 inches from heat.
• Combine bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, oregano and salt and pepper. Add olive oil, and toss until crumbs are evenly coated. Stir in broth, mixing to blend. Mixture will be quite damp.
• Put a rounded teaspoon of the crumb mixture on each clam, smoothing the top. Arrange clams on baking sheet with sides, and pour in about 1/8 inch water. Broil until topping is lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

BAKED CLAMS OREGANATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Make topping:
• In a small bowl stir together topping ingredients until combined well and season with salt and pepper.
• Scrub reserved clam shells inside and out and dry. In a shallow baking pan spread coarse salt about 1/4 inch deep and nestle shells in salt to keep them level. Return shucked clams to shells and cover generously with topping. Clams may be prepared up to this point 1 hour ahead and chilled.
• Bake clams in middle of oven 10 minutes. Serve clams nestled in coarse salt on a platter.

CLAMS OREGANATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broil.
• In a large bowl gently toss bread crumbs, herbs, olive oil, salt and pepper. Be careful not to overwork the mixture. Set aside.
• Line a baking sheet with salt and arrange 12 clam shells. Put 1 clam in each shell and top with 2 tablespoons of the bread crumb mixture. Drizzle with olive oil. Broil 2 to 3 minutes.

BAKED CLAMS OREGANATE

Steps:

• BREAD CRUMBS: Unless you make your own bread crumbs, you won't be following Rao's kitchen tradition. Use the finest quality Italian bread you can find. Allow it to dry for at least 2 days, then grate, using a handheld grater or a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Shake and push the bread crumbs through a medium strainer to get an even texture.
• BAKED CLAMS: Have your fishmonger open your clams if you are not comfortable doing the job yourself. Leave the clams on the half shell and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Place broiler tray on the lowest rack and preheat broiler. Combine bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper. Add olive oil and toss mixture until crumbs are evenly coated. Add the broth and continue to mix until very well blended. The mixture should be quite wet.
• Put approximately 1 heaping teaspoon of bread crumb mixture on each clam. Smooth over the top, making sure that the edges are sealed. Using the edge of a teaspoon, cut ridges into the topping. Pour 1/8-inch cold water into a cookie sheet with sides (to keep the clams moist while broiling) and broil for about 7 minutes or until the bread crumb topping is well browned and crisp.
• Put 6 clams on each of 6 small, warm serving plates. Garnish each plate with 1 lemon wedge and parsley sprig and serve.

BAKED CLAMS OREGANATA

Steps:

• Let the oil and garlic steep in a small bowl 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 475° F. Shuck the clams as described on page 7, reserving the clam juice. Strain the juice through cheesecloth or a very fine sieve into a 13 × 11-inch baking dish. Add the white wine, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the parsley, the butter, and half of the crushed red pepper.
• In a deep bowl, toss the bread crumbs, grated cheese, tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of the garlic-infused oil, the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped parsley, the oregano, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper until thoroughly blended.
• Top each clam with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the bread-crumb topping, packing it down tight. Set clams in the prepared baking pan and drizzle the remaining infused oil over them. Bake until the pan juices are bubbling and the bread crumbs are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the clams to a warm platter or divide among serving plates.
• To keep the bread-crumb topping crunchy, spoon the sauce from the baking dish onto the plates-not over the clams. Serve immediately, garnished with the lemon slices.