Clams In Olive Oil With Jamon And Pine Nuts Recipes

GRILLED CLAMS WITH SCALLIONS AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Preheat the grill on high heat.
• Cook the garlic: In a medium pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. When it gets hot, add the garlic and ginger. Season lightly with salt and cook, stirring constantly, until they turn golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove them from the pan and immediately transfer to a medium bowl to cool. Stir in the pine nuts.
• In a larger bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil with the cucumbers and chili flakes. Toss to coat them with the oil. Season them lightly with salt. Sprinkle them with the sugar, vinegar and the sliced scallions and toss to blend. Combine with the garlic and pine nuts.
• Cook the clams and finish the dish: Scatter the clams on the grill in a single layer. Have a pair of tongs and a large platter ready. Clams will being to open after 3 minutes and should take about 10 minutes total. As they open, use the tongs to remove them from the grill and place them on the platter. When they are all opened, squeeze the juice from the lemons over them and scatter the cucumber and pine nuts all around. Try to get the mixture inside the clam shells as well. It's so delicious when you bite into the clam and get all the other flavors (and the char on the outside of the shells) all at once. Serve immediately.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH BASIL BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Heat a gas grill or prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals.
• Combine the bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, pine nuts, salt and pepper in a large serving bowl and set aside.
• When the grill is hot, place the clams in 1 layer on the hot grate and allow the heat to open the clams. They'll open gradually for about 5 minutes, then pop-open wide when they're done. Using tongs, remove the clams from the grill and place them in the bowl with the bread crumb mixture and toss together. Drizzle with the melted butter, and serve hot.

BAKED CLAMS WITH PINE NUTS AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place pine nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until golden, about 7 minutes. Shake the pan often while baking to make sure the nuts toast evenly. Let cool; finely chop.
• Wash and dry 6 quahog shells; set aside.
• Coarsely chop clams; in a large bowl, toss clams with pine nuts, garlic, 1 tablespoon softened butter, basil, lemon juice, vermouth, salt, and pepper; add 1 to 2 tablespoons clam liquid. In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
• Divide clam mixture among reserved shells on a baking sheet; sprinkle with breadcrumbs, and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.