Freezer Baked Stuffed Quahogsclams Recipes

NEW ENGLAND STUFFED CLAMS (QUAHOGS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Scrub clam shells to remove any debris.
• Fill a deep, wide skillet with about 1/2 inch of water, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the quahogs in one layer and cover. Steam the clams for about 4-5 minutes. As soon as the shells open, remove the clams from the skillet, and discard any that don't open. Retain the cooking liquid, and rinse out the skillet before proceeding to step 6.
• Next, remove the clam meat, but not the adductor muscle portion that attaches the two halves of the shell (this is tough). Chop the meat into small pieces. Reserve 12 clam shells for step 9.
• Into the same skillet, add the olive oil, butter, bell pepper, chourico (or dry chorizo) and onions, and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes until the onions and bell peppers soften. Then, add the garlic and saute for another minute or two before removing the skillet from the heat.
• In a large bowl cover the bread with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the quahogs. With your hands, push the bread down into the liquid completely submerging it. Allow to sit for a few minutes to soak up the liquid. Drain and excess and, with your finger tips, break the bread apart to form a fine meal. The mixture should be moist enough to stick together, but not too wet. If needed, add more clam liquid or more breadcrumbs.
• Add in the chopped quahog meat and the sautéed meat and vegetable mixture to the bowl.
• Finally, add in the Portuguese allspice and red pepper flakes and mix to combine. Taste mixture and adjust the seasonings. Once the bread seasoning is to your liking, add in the beaten egg. Mix until completely combined.
• Stuff the clam shells with a mounded scoop scoop of clam stuffing. Sprinkle with some paprika then bake on a rimmed baking sheet until heated through - about 20-25 minutes.
• Top with a pad of butter, a slice of lemon, and hot sauce on the side (optional).

TIM O'TOOLE'S FAMOUS STUFFED QUAHOGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring water to a boil over high heat. Add sausage links; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove links from broth; reserve the broth. Remove casings from the sausage.
• Bring the broth back to a simmer and add the quahogs; cook until they open, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the quahogs; reserve the broth. Remove the cooked quahogs from the shells. Separate the shell halves. If necessary wash the shells.
• Place the sausage and quahog meat into the bowl of a food processor; process until chopped, about 12 seconds, depending on your processor. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Add chopped onion to the processor; chop about 5 seconds. Stir in to the meat mixture.
• Make the full container of stuffing according to package directions, using the margarine, and substituting the sausage/clam broth for water. There may be more broth than you need.
• Mix together the stuffing and sausage/clam/onion mixture. Spoon filling into empty clam shell halves and top each with a small pat of butter (about a third of a teaspoon).
• Place the shells on a baking pan; bake in the preheated oven until toasty brown on top, 15 to 20 minutes.

BAKED STUFFED QUAHOGS OR CLAMS (RHODE ISLAND STYLE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350 degrees.
• Shuck quahogs/clams. Chop quahog meat into bite size chunks and set aside. Save shells and juice. You should have 24 shells for 24 "stuffies". Scrub the shells clean before stuffing.
• Melt 1/2 stick of butter and saute celery and onion on medium low heat for about 5 minutes. Add white wine, remaining butter and clam juice and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes to reduce liquid just a bit and butter is melted. Add chopped quahogs and remove from heat. Strain and separate liquid from solids - do not toss anything!
• In a large bowl add stuffing, pour liquid on stuffing. If stuffing is dry add more of the clam juice. Stuffing should have a sloppy soupy consistency.
• Add clam and veggie mixture to stuffing. Remember stuffing must be soupy because when it cooks the liquid will dry up.
• Add 1 T Old Bay at a time, mix and taste - if you need more flavor add a little more. Be careful - Old Bay is salty.
• Place shells on a large pizza/cookie sheet. Spray each with a little oil spray to prevent stuffing from sticking.
• Scoop a large amount of stuffing in each of the quahogs - you may be able to use all 24 shells.
• A few things to remember - do not over cook quahogs in pan w/veggies, stuffing must be soupy - if it's dry add a little more clam juice, be careful with the Old Bay. This a an easy recipe, but it took me a couple of times before I perfected it.
• I put 35-40 minutes for cooking - but when the stuffing is set and the top is crunchy and brown - they are done!
• Enjoy!

BAKED STUFFED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• In a large frying pan, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until translucent. Stir in clams, crab meat, parsley, lemon pepper, and bread crumbs. Reduce heat to low, and slowly pour in clam juice until mixture is slightly sticky, but not wet. The bread crumbs will continue to absorb moisture, so be careful not to add too much clam juice.
• Fill each clean clam shell with mixture, pressing tightly into shell. Arrange on a baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with paprika. (Stuffed shells may be covered and frozen at this point for later use.)
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and sizzling. If frozen, bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until warmed through. Serve warm on a platter with lemon wedges.

HILDA'S STUFFIES (STUFFED QUAHOGS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the clams to the boiling water, cover, and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the shells open. Discard any shells that do not open. Remove the clams from the pot and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan. When the clams are cool enough to handle, gently pry the shells apart enough to remove the clam, leaving the hinge attached. Loosen the muscle in the lower shell and remove the clam from the shell. Save the 6 nicest shells and place the shells on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside. Finely chop the clam meat and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, stir the butter and 1 tablespoon of the garlic together. Season the butter with salt and pepper. Spoon the butter onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form the butter into a 1-inch log, cover tightly, and place in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until rendered, about 2 minutes. Add the onions, celery and peppers. Season lightly with Essence. Cook for 2 more minutes. Stir in the remaining garlic, the breadcrumbs, and reserved clam meat and remove from the heat. Stir in the reserved cooking liquid and 2 tablespoons of the parsley. Season with Essence and cool slightly.
• Pack the stuffing mixture into one side of each shell. Slice the compound butter into 6 equal slices. Place a slice of the butter on top of each stuffing mixture. Using your hands, pat the stuffing firmly into each clam shell. Top each evenly with the cheese and the remaining parsley. Close the shells as tightly as possible and wrap with aluminum foil or tie the shell tightly with butchers twine.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Unwrap the clams and place on a serving platter. Garnish with additional parsley and Essence and serve hot.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.