John Mitovitch And Thom Serranis Clams Casino Recipes

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450° F.
• Shuck the clams as described on page 7, reserving the clam juice and arranging the clams on the half shell side by side in a 13 × 11-inch baking dish. Strain the juice through cheesecloth or a very fine sieve into the baking dish. Sprinkle some of the parsley over the clams. Top each clam with a square of roasted pepper. Cover the pepper with two squares of bacon. Using about 3 tablespoons of the butter, dot the top of each clam with about 1/4 teaspoon butter. Cut the remaining butter into several pieces and tuck them in and around the clams in the baking dish. Add the wine and remaining parsley to the baking dish.
• Bake until the bacon is crisp and the pan juices are bubbling, about 12 minutes. Arrange clams on a warmed serving platter, or divide them among warmed plates. Pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and bring to a boil on top of the stove. Boil until lightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon the juices over the clams and serve immediately.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Cut each bacon strip into 4 pieces and lightly fry in a pan over medium heat. (You don't want the bacon to become crispy since it is going to go into the broiler later.) Remove and set aside half-cooked bacon.
• Chop the peppers and the onion into a medium dice. Chop the jalapeño finely, discarding seeds. It's a good idea to wash your hands afterward.
• Add the peppers, the onion and the jalapeño to the softened butter.
• Add the Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice to taste.
• Add a generous pinch of the vegetable mixture to each of the opened clams on its half shell. Place a piece of the cooked bacon on top of the mixture on each clam.
• Place the clams under the broiler and let cook until the vegetables begin to wilt and the bacon is almost crisp, around 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook bacon until crisp over medium heat. Crumble, and set aside.
• Wash clams. Place on a baking sheet. Heat in a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 1 to 2 minutes, or until clams open. Discard any that do not open. Remove meat from shells. Chop, and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil and butter to a small skillet, and place pan over medium heat. Add onion, pepper, and garlic; saute until tender. Remove from heat, and cool.
• In a medium bowl, combine bread crumbs, bacon, oregano, cheese, sauteed vegetables, and chopped clams. Mix well. Fill clam shells with mixture, and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with parsley and paprika. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 7 minutes. Serve.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Shuck the clams, leaving each clam in the half-shell and reserving the juices. Strain the juices through a cheesecloth into a bowl.
• Place the clams on a rimmed baking sheet in one even layer. Top each clam with a pepper square, then with a bacon or pancetta square, and with a dab of butter, using all 3 tablespoons evenly. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top. Pour the reserved shucking juices into a measuring cup, and add enough white wine to make 2 cups combined liquid. Pour the liquid into the bottom of the baking sheet.
• Bake the clams, uncovered, until the bacon or pancetta is crispy and the clams are cooked all the way through, about 25 minutes. Serve on a platter, drizzled with baking juices.

CLASSIC CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in skillet until crisp.
• Drain excess fat, roughly chop, and set aside.
• Next, mix the softened butter, shallots, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, salt and cayenne until combined well.
• Arrange the clams in your largest skillet in a single layer.
• Please feel free to steam the clams in batches if they don't all fit in your pan.
• Add a cup or so of water, cover, bring to a boil, and steam clams until their shells just begin to open.
• Remember, the clams will be finished under the broiler, so don't let them go too long in the pan after they begin to open!
• Once the clams are cool enough to handle, twist off the top shell and discard.
• Slide a sharp knife under each clam to loosen it from the bottom shell.
• Line baking sheets or broiler pans with a crumpled large piece of foil - this allows you to press the shells into the foil so they are less likely to tip over.
• Spread about ¼ tsp of seasoned butter on each clam, top with chopped bacon, and ½ tsp of breadcrumbs.
• Arrange clams on baking sheet.
• The clams can be prepared up to this point, and them covered and refrigerated up to 4 hours until ready to broil.
• When ready to serve, preheat broiler.
• Broil clams until crumbs are toasted, and butter is melted and sizzling, about 3-4 minutes.
• Serve warm.

JOHN MITOVITCH AND THOM SERRANI'S CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Arrange the clams, shell side down, on a rack or baking dish.
• Combine the two tablespoons soft butter with the Tabasco sauce, scallions, garlic, shallots, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, red and green peppers, mustard, Cognac, salt and pepper. Sprinkle an equal portion of the mixture on top of each clam.
• Put the bacon in a saucepan and add water to cover. Bring to the boil and drain. Pat dry. Cut the bacon into small rectangles and cover each clam with a portion of it. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs and pour the melted butter over all. Place in the oven and bake 20 minutes.