California Clam Bake Recipes

CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• Place a potatoes in a layer in the bottom of a large pot. Cover with a layer of clams, then mussels, and finally the shrimp. Pour in the vermouth and enough chicken broth to fill the pot halfway. You may not need all of the broth, depending on the size of your pot. Cut a half cup of the butter into cubes and place on top of the seafood. Cover with a lid, and seal tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. Remove from the heat, and carefully remove the foil and lid. Remove the seafood and potatoes from the liquid and serve on a large platter, family-style.
• Melt 1/2 cup of reserved butter, and divide into 4 individual dishes for dipping. Serve with French bread and remaining softened butter for the bread.

CALIFORNIA CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• This recipe originally appeared on Giada on the Beach. Episode: Clam Bake.
• Add the wine, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, butter, salt and 1/2 cup water to a small Dutch oven. Add the potatoes and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook until the potatoes are just cooked through, 15 minutes. Add the lemon slices and clams. Cover and cook until the clams have opened, an additional 3 minutes. Discard any unopened clams. Serve in bowls with a good ladle of the juice and crusty bread for dipping.

CLAM BAKE ON THE BEACH

Steps:

• Dig a shallow pit in the sand and line it with large stones. Pile wood on top of the coals. Burn the wood for 1 to 2 hours until the rocks are red hot; rake off the ashes. Set 1 cinder block on each corner of the pit to form the base; lay a barbecue grate on top to make a table.
• While the stones are heating prepare the herb butter: Mix the butter with the cheese and herbs; season it with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Place a thick layer of seaweed on the grate. Place a layer of potatoes on the rack and cover them with a thin layer of seaweed. Put the corn on next and then another thin layer of seaweed. Now put on the kielbasa and top it with a thin layer of seaweed. Next mound the clams on top and cover with a thick layer of seaweed. Cover the entire bake with burlap or a tarp soaked in sea water. Keep the tarp wet by pouring sea water over the top if needed. Cook until the clams open and the potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.
• Pull the husks back from the corn and remove the silk. Brush generously with the herb butter and garnish with grated Parmesan.

CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• The ingredients listed are suggested. Feel free to use whatever ingredients your party likes and has available. This technique is for an indoor clambake. Optimally, a clambake is held on the beach in a rock lined sand pit in which a fire has been going for hours and the red embers have heated the rocks to over 400 degrees. Placing the large wash tin on a few lit burners on the stovetop can create a similar effect. Place rocks down first. Let heat for 15 minutes. Once rocks are hot, place seaweed on rocks then begin to insert the clams. Place one pie tin above the clams. Place leeks and butter in the tin, cover with the second tin. Continue adding rest of ingredients. Pour 2 gallons of fresh water (or sea water if possible) over entire tub. Cover tightly and let steam and cook for at least 20 minutes. When eggs on top have become hard-boiled, the rest of ingredients should be cooked as well. Plate and eat.

CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in large pasta pot with a strainer and simmer until clams open and the corn is tender. Strain liquid and dump ingredients onto a large table for a great festive feast.

GRILLED CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• Tap clams; discard any that do not close., In a large disposable roasting pan, layer the clams, corn, potatoes, onions, wine, herbs, oil, garlic, pepper, pepper sauce, salt and bay leaves. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 15 minutes., Add crab; cook until potatoes are tender, 25-30 minutes. Discard bay leaves; stir in butter. Serve with bread if desired.

TRADITIONAL CLAMBAKE

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high (350 to 400 F).
• Combine butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, cayenne and thyme in small bowl: set aside.
• Line large bowl with 2 sheets of aluminum foil.
• Fill evenly with one-fourth of the shrimp, potatoes, corn, clams and sausage.
• Drizzle with butter mixture.
• Close foil packet by bringing corners together at tip and pressing together tightly to seal. Repeat to make 4 packets.
• Grill packets, covered, 20 to 25 minutes or until clams open and shrimp are opaque. To serve, place packets on large plates and open to vent.

AUNT PHYLLIS' CLAM CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Saute first 4 ingredients in a large skillet, simmering for a few minutes.
• Combine and add the next 7 ingredients and then add the stuffing slowly until you have an oatmeal consistency.
• Place in a casserole dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 325 degrees F. for 20-30 minutes.

SHIRLEY'S BAKED CLAM CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Crush crackers.
• Mix clams or other seafood and crackers together.
• Put in small individual casserole dishes of your choice. The amount this will serve, depends on what size you use. I use about 8"x3" individual casserole dishes.
• Divide the seafood mixture between the casserole dishes.
• Add melted butter over the top of each casserole dish.
• Squirt desired amount of lemon juice over top.
• of all.
• Sprinkle with desired amount of salt and pepper.
• Bake for 25 minutes at 325.

STOVETOP CLAMBAKE

Steps:

• Combine onions, garlic, pale ale, and water in a 16-quart stockpot. Cover with a layer of seaweed (or place a steamer basket on top of onions). Add potatoes, chorizo, and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil. Add lobsters; cook over high heat, covered, for 15 minutes. Add clams and corn; cook, covered, for 6 minutes. Add mussels and shrimp; cook, covered, until clams and mussels open and shrimp are cooked through, 4 to 8 minutes.
• Remove seafood, corn, potatoes, and chorizo using tongs, and transfer to large platters or rimmed baking sheets. Discard seaweed and any unopened clams and mussels. Strain liquid through a sieve into a bowl; add butter, swirling to melt. Squeeze lemons over clambake.

CLAM - LOBSTER BAKE

Steps:

• Prepare your favorite clam chowder as an appetizer.
• Serve clambake with plenty of melted butter, lemons, and watermelon.
• " Detailed directions below.
• Dig a bow-shaped pit 3 ft. in diameter and 1.5 feet deep in the center.
• Using crisscross pattern, line with double thickness of heavy duty aluminum foil, then a layer of dry rocks about the size of grapefruit. NOTE: Wet rocks can explode. Build a bonfire on top of rocks in the pit. Use firewood and kindling.
• Let the fire burn 1.5 to 2 hours or until burned down and rocks are hot. NOTE: Do not use charcoal.
• Soak corn-on-the-cob (with silk removed) and mixed greens in cold water while fire is burning.
• Wash clams and set aside. Refrigerate lobster on ice. Peel onions; remove ends. Oil potatoes.
• Once fire has burned down, work quickly to prevent rocks from losing heat. Tamp down embers.
• On top of rocks, layer pit in the following order: Half of the greens, strips of wet cheesecloth, potatoes, corn, onions, chicken halves, live lobsters and clams.
• Cover food with remaining wet cheesecloth, then greens.
• Cover pit with heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Crimp all sides to the edges of aluminum foil used to line the pit. Let food steam cook 40 to 60 minutes.
• Remove foods immediately when done. Cooking times will vary depending on temperature of rocks.
• Peek at clams after 40 minutes. If they are open and lobsters are bright red, dinner is ready.
• Serve with melted butter and lemon.

ONE POT CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• Place a steamer basket in 30-quart pot. Add wine and 12 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Add potatoes; cover and cook 5 minutes. Add lobsters and eggs; cover and cook 10 minutes. Gently nestle corn and next 6 ingredients (and littlenecks, if using) in pot. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Add Manila clams or steamers (if using), cover, and cook 10 minutes. Add mussels, cover, and cook until shellfish open, about 5 minutes (discard any that do not open). Peel 1 egg and cut in half. If it's hard-boiled, lobsters are ready.
• Using a slotted spoon and tongs, transfer clambake to a very large platter or a table covered with newspaper. Sprinkle with spice mix. Pour broth from pot into small bowls, leaving any sediment behind. Serve clambake with broth and melted butter.

ONE-POT CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• In a 12-quart stockpot, bring wine and 3/4 cup water to a boil. Add garlic, shallots, potatoes, and 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, if using; cover and cook 8 minutes. Add corn, clams, and lemons; cover and cook until clams have opened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add shrimp in a single layer, cover, turn off heat, and let sit until shrimp are opaque throughout, about 3 minutes.
• With tongs or a spider, transfer shellfish and vegetables to a serving platter, setting lemons aside; discard any unopened clams. Pour broth into a bowl and whisk in butter, parsley, and oregano. Scrape flesh from half the lemons into broth, discarding skins. Serve shellfish and vegetables with remaining lemons and broth for dipping.

TODD ENGLISH'S BACKYARD NEW ENGLAND CLAM BAKE

Steps:

• 1. Place the potatoes and chicken in a large pot; cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are soft and the chicken thighs are cooked through, about 15 minutes, skimming any foam that rises to the top. (The potatoes should be soft but not cooked through.)
• 2. In the meantime, prepare coals in a barbecue grill with a fitted lid. Place the seaweed and corn in a very large bowl of water and soak thoroughly, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• 3. When the coals are ready, they will be red in the center and the edges will be ash. Place a layer of seaweed (about 4 inches deep) over the entire grill. Place the lobsters in the center of the seaweed and surround with the corn. Arrange the potatoes, chicken and sausage in layers atop the lobsters. Top with the clams. Cover completely with the remaining seaweed. Cover the grill with the lid and cook for 45 minutes or until the lobster is steaming and red.
• 4. Serve immediately with drawn butter, if desired.