Spicy Steamed Clams With Fennel Recipes

CLAMS WITH FENNEL AND PERNOD

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, fennel bulb with fronds, garlic and fennel seeds; sauté until fennel bulb is tender, about 10 minutes. Add wine; boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and Pernod; simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Add clams to pot; cover and cook until clams open, about 8 minutes (discard any that do not open). Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with oregano. Garnish with lemon.

CLAMS WITH FENNEL BROTH

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the celery, fennel, leeks, shallots and garlic and cook on very low heat until they become tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme, bay leaf and white wine, increase the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the clam juice, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Stir in the creme fraiche. Add the clams, cover the pot, and cook until all the clams have opened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the baguette

SPICY CLAMS WITH GARLICKY TOASTS

Steps:

• Set a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. When oil is hot, add scallions and let sizzle for a minute without browning. Add garlic and peppers, stir and let sizzle for 15 seconds.
• Add wine and broth, and turn heat to high. Add clams, and clamp on lid. Cook for 7 or 8 minutes, stirring once or twice, until all clams have opened. Turn off heat and keep pot covered.
• As clams cook, prepare the baguette: Under the broiler, toast the bread cut-side up until it's golden. Rub the cut side of baguette with a peeled garlic clove and and drizzle each of the four pieces with about 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.
• Just before serving, throw parsley, cilantro and basil into the pot and stir well to distribute.
• Ladle clams and broth into big soup bowls. Serve with garlic toasts for sopping and lemon wedges. For a dramatic presentation, set a single long toast atop each bowl.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausages; sauté until almost cooked through, breaking up with fork, about 10 minutes. Add shallots, garlic and dried red pepper. Sauté until sausage is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes with juices, broth and vinegar. Add clams, cover and boil until clams open, about 8 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Mix in basil.

CLAM PASTA WITH BASIL AND HOT PEPPER

Steps:

• Make the purée: Grind basil and parsley together in a food processor. (Alternatively, hand chop herbs or pound them in a mortar.) Add garlic paste and 1/4 cup olive oil and pulse to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rapid boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, taking care to keep pasta quite al dente. It's best to use a timer, and drain pasta as soon as it's done.
• While pasta is cooking, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed wide pot with a lid over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, fennel seed if using and pepperoncino, and let sizzle without browning, about 1 minute. Add clams, stirring to coat with a wooden spoon. Raise heat to high, add wine and put on the lid. Cook, covered, until all clams have opened, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off heat. (Discard any clams that fail to open.)
• Add cooked pasta and basil purée to pot and toss gently to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with basil leaves and lemon wedges.