Clams With Zucchini And Jalapeño Recipes

STEAMED CLAMS WITH JALAPEñO BUTTER

Steps:

• Scrub the clams under cold running water to remove grit and sand, then set aside.
• Melt 2 teaspoons of the butter in a large pot set over medium heat. Add the bacon, if using, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it has started to crisp, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add the beer to the pot, and allow to heat through, then carefully add the clams in layers. Cover the pot, and let the clams steam and open, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• While the clams cook, put a small pot over medium heat, and add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. When it melts, add the jalapeños and stir to combine. Keep the butter warm until ready to use.
• Drain the clams, reserving their liquor, and serve them on a platter, with the reserved clam broth and the melted butter.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH CHARRED ZUCCHINI AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• In a medium skillet, over low heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the oil gets hot, add the pine nuts. Season them lightly with salt and cook them, stirring constantly, until they turn golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove them from the pan to a small bowl. Stir in the minced garlic, salt, to taste, and the mint.
• In a large plate, combine the remaining olive oil, the zucchini slices, paprika and light sprinkling of salt. For best results, "dust" the zucchini with the paprika but put it in a little strainer and sprinkle it evenly over the zucchini slices. Toss to coat them with the oil. Season them lightly with salt. Arrange them in a single layer on the hottest part of the grill and cook until they are tender to the touch and charred but not falling apart, 3 to 5 minutes. Use a pair of metal tongs to remove the zucchini from the grill and transfer them to a flat surface. Stack the slices and cut them widthwise into 1/2-inch slices, then make 1 slice down the middle, creating a 1/2-inch dice. Toss them in the bowl with the pine nuts, and then add the lemon juice.
• Dip a cloth into some oil and rub over the grill grates. Scatter the clams on the grill in a single layer. Have a pair of tongs and a large platter ready. Littleneck clams take a while to open up, about 10 minutes depending on size, but that's all a part of the fun - the suspense of waiting for them to open. Add a splash of water to help them along and steam. As they open, use the tongs to remove them from the grill and put them on the platter. When they are all opened, scatter the zucchini and pine nuts all around. Try to get the zucchini inside the shells directly on top of the clams and serve immediately.

LINGUINE WITH SPICY CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, chili and oregano to skillet. Sauté until onion is tender, about 6 minutes. Add clams with their juices and cream. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 4 minutes. Add pasta and 4 tablespoons basil; toss until sauce coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Sprinkle with remaining basil.

PASTA WITH CLAMS AND JALAPEñO

Steps:

• Boil salted water for the pasta. Meanwhile, combine the oil, jalapeño and garlic in a deep skillet over low heat and cook until fragrant. The aroma will tell you when the infusion is complete. If using dried oregano, add it now. (Add fresh at the last minute.) Increase the heat a bit, add clams and cover. Cook about 5 minutes, until all the clams have opened. (Move them around to make sure they're evenly heated.) The clam liquid should prevent the garlic and jalapeño from burning, but keep a careful eye. Remove pan from the heat, discard any unopened clams, cover and set over low heat.
• Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and add the pasta to the clam mixture, tossing gently to coat it with the sauce and distribute the clams evenly. Season very sparingly with salt, if needed, and freshly ground white pepper. Sprinkle with fresh oregano and parsley and serve immediately.

CLAMS WITH ZUCCHINI AND JALAPEñO

Steps:

• Scrub clams well and in a large bowl cover with salted cold water. Cut zucchini into 2 x 1/2-inch sticks. Wearing rubber gloves, halve jalapeño lengthwise and discard seeds from one half. Finely chop jalapeño and onion. In a large saucepan heat 2 tablespoons butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté zucchini, jalapeño, and onion, stirring, until zucchini is crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer zucchini mixture to a bowl.
• In pan melt remaining tablespoon butter over moderately high heat and add clams and wine. Steam clams, covered, over moderately high heat 5 to 8 minutes, checking them every minute after 5 minutes and transferring them with tongs as they open to a serving bowl. Reserve cooking liquid in pan. (Discard clams that are unopened after 8 minutes.) Stir zucchini mixture into reserved cooking liquid and pour over clams.
• Serve clams with bread.