Clams On The Half Shell With Fresh Mayonnaise Recipes

STEAMED CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL

Steps:

• In a large pan heat butter and oil.
• Saute shallots 2 minutes add garlic give a couple stirs then add white wine simmer 5 minutes or till reduced in half.
• Add can diced tomatoes.
• Add seasonings and bring to boil.
• Add frozen clams just to heat.
• Place on a platter and drizzle olive oil over clams.
• Garnish with parsley.
• Serve with a nice fresh crusty bread.
• Or toss clams into cooked pasta for a meal.

CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH FRESH MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Open the clams by inserting the edge of a butter knife right at the end where the most curved part of the shell is, next to the hinge, and levering it open. Do your best not to damage the inner meat with the knife. The meat is connected at the hinge and at the adductor muscle. Just scrape that off the shell of on both sides. Arrange on a serving platter and chill while preparing the mayonnaise.
• Whisk together the egg yolk, salt, ground mustard, and sugar in a glass bowl. Combine the lemon juice and vinegar in another bowl. Whisk half of the lemon juice mixture into the yolk mixture. On a non-skid pad, whisk briskly, adding the oil a few drops at a time until the liquid seems to thicken and lighten a bit, which means you've got an emulsion on your hands. Once you reach that point, you can relax your arm a little and increase the oil flow to a constant, but thin stream. Once half of the oil is in, add the remaining lemon juice mixture.
• Continue whisking until all of the oil is incorporated. Serve 1 teaspoon mayonnaise on top of chilled clams on the half shell.

RAW CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL

Steps:

• Scrub the clams under cold water with a stiff brush to remove the dirt. Next, find a durable thick cloth and fold it over several times to create a square; this will steady the clams as you shuck them and also protect your hand. Using the towel as a mitt, hold the clam firmly in the palm of your towel-covered hand; have a small bowl handy to catch the delicious juice. Insert the tip of a clam or oyster knife between the shell halves, and work it around one side to the other as you pry it open. Using the knife, cut the muscles away from the top shell, bend the shell back, and discard it. Run the knife underneath the clam to detach it completely, but leave it in its shell (take care not to cut the meat itself.) Tip out the clam juice into the bowl and pour it back over the shucked clams. Nestle the clams in a bed of crushed ice or rock salt to keep them steady. Spoon the cucumber mignonette on top and serve as part of a raw shellfish bar.
• In a small bowl, combine the rice wine vinegar, shallots, ginger, cucumber, black pepper, and cilantro; mixing with a fork. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or up to the day before you plan to serve, to allow the flavors to come together. Serve with raw oysters and clams.

GRILLED CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH GINGER MIGNONNETTE

Steps:

• Whisk together all ingredients except coarse salt and clams (to make mignonnette sauce).
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents in bottom of grill.
• Cover a large platter with a 1/2-inch layer of coarse salt to hold clams in place for serving. Grip 1 clam in a kitchen towel with its "hinge" facing toward you. Working over a bowl to catch any clam liquor, slide knife in between the 2 shells at a point opposite hinge and rotate clam, sliding knife between shells, until knife reaches hinge. Cut through hinge, being careful to avoid hitting center of clam. Open shells, sliding knife along underside of top shell to detach it from clam. Pull top shell off and discard, keeping clam in bottom shell, and slide knife under clam to loosen, preserving as much clam liquor as possible in bowl.
• When fire is moderately hot (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds), set rack on grill. Using tongs, arrange clams on the half shell in 1 layer on rack and spoon some reserved liquor on them. Once clam liquor reaches a boil, allow clams to grill, uncovered, until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully transfer clams with tongs to platter and drizzle with mignonnette.

CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH FRESH MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Serve one teaspoon mayonnaise on top of chilled clams on the half shell.
• For variations, add 1 tablespoon of any of the following ingredients: roasted garlic, basil chiffonade, chopped chipotle peppers, finely diced roasted red peppers, or prepared horseradish to one cup of mayonnaise.
• In a bowl, combine lemon juice and champagne vinegar.
• In a separate glass bowl, whisk together egg yolk and dry ingredients.
• Add half of the lemon juice mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix well before adding any oil. Begin adding oil, a little at a time, until it is incorporated into the emulsion. The color should lighten once 1/4 of the oil is emulsified. Then add the oil in a slow constant stream, whisking continuously. After 3/4 of the oil is incorporated, add the rest of the lemon juice mixture.
• Continue to whisk until all of the oil is incorporated. Leave at room temperature for 1 hour. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.