Vongole Mediterranio Baked Clams Rice With Saffron Recipes

VONGOLE MEDITERRANIO (BAKED CLAMS & RICE WITH SAFFRON)

Steps:

• Place clams in a pot with wine and garlic, cover and steam the clams for 5 - 6 minutes (until they open).
• Please, discard any clams that do not open -- they are bad.
• Drain the pot, reserving the liquid and remove the clam meat from the shells. Leave some clams in the shell for garnishing.
• Set the clams aside.
• Strain the clam liquid in a sieve that has been lined with cheese cloth, linen or a muslin cloth and reserve the clam liquid.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Saute the onion in butter in an ovenproof casserole for 2 - 3 minutes.
• Add the rice and saffron to the casserole dish and gently stir to coat with butter.
• Next add the chicken stock and clam liquid to the dish and bring to a boil. Stir the rice once, reduce the heat and cover the dish.
• Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove the casserole dish from the oven and uncover, add the clams and butter to the dish, gently mixing together.
• Re-cover the casserole dish , return to oven and bake for 7 minutes more.
• Remove dish from oven, uncover, sprinkle with the scallions, garnish with the reserved clams in shell and serve immediately.
• A wonderful light meal, served with fruit salad.

BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Combine the garlic, bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.
• Coarsely chop the clams and combine with the lemon juice in a separate bowl.
• Place the clam shells on a baking sheet, using a thin bed of rock salt to stabilize them if desired, and divide chopped clams between them.
• Top with the bread crumb mixture and drizzle with the butter.
• Cook under a preheated broiler until the topping is golden brown and the clams are bubbling, about 2 minutes.
• Garnish with lemon wedges.

VONGOLE MEDITERRANIO (BAKED CLAMS & RICE WITH SAFF

Steps:

• 1. Place clams in a pot with wine and garlic, cover and steam the clams for 5 - 6 minutes (until they open).
• 2. Please, discard any clams that do not open -- they are bad.
• 3. Drain the pot, reserving the liquid and remove the clam meat from the shells.
• 4. Leave some clams in the shell for garnishing.
• 5. Set the clams aside.
• 6. Strain the clam liquid in a sieve that has been lined with cheese cloth, linen or a muslin cloth and reserve the clam liquid.
• 7. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• 8. Saute the onion in butter in an ovenproof casserole for 2 - 3 minutes.
• 9. Add the rice and saffron to the casserole dish and gently stir to coat with butter.
• 10. Next add the chicken stock and clam liquid to the dish and bring to a boil.
• 11. Stir the rice once, reduce the heat and cover the dish.
• 12. Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• 13. Remove the casserole dish from the oven and uncover, add the clams and butter to the dish, gently mixing together.
• 14. Re-cover the casserole dish , return to oven and bake for 7 minutes more.
• 15. Remove dish from oven, uncover, sprinkle with the scallions, garnish with the reserved clams in shell and serve immediately.
• 16. A wonderful light meal, served with fruit salad.

BRAISED RICE WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a 2-3 quart saucepan and keep it barely simmering over low heat.
• In a heavy 3qt flamproof casserole, melt 4 tbls butter over moderate heat. Cook the onions in the butter, stirring frequently, for 7-8 minutes. Do not let them brown.
• Stir in the optional marrow, then add the rice and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes, or until the grains glisten with the butter and are somewhat opaque.
• Pour in the wine and boil it until it is almost completely absorbed.
• Add 2 cups of the simmering stock to the rice and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the liquid is absored.
• Add 2 more cups of stock and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, stir the saffron into 2 cups of stock and let it steep for a few minutes.
• Pour it over the rice. Cook until the stock is completely absorbed.
• By now the rice should be tender. If it is still firm, add the remaining stock- 1/2 cup at a time - and continue cooking and stirring until the rice is soft.
• Stir in 4 tabl of soft butter and the grated cheese with a fork, taking care not to mash the rice.
• Serve at once while the rice is creamy and piping hot.

FRESH BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Put clams in a large kettle or clam pot with the water; cook over moderate heat, just until the shells open.
• Remove from the heat and when cool enough to handle, pluck the whole clams from the shells; save half the shells.
• Meanwhile, blend together the butter, garlic, parsley and bread crumbs.
• Set each clam back into a half shell and spread about a teaspoon of the mixture atop each clam in a shell.
• Arrange filled shells in a baking dish and broil 4" from the heat source until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

SHERRIED ONION AND ALMOND SOUP WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Melt the better in a heavy saucepan over a low heat to prevent it from burning. Add the onions and garlic, stirring frequently for 15-20 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.
• Add the saffron and cook, uncovered, for 3-4 minutes. Add the ground almonds and cook, stirring continuously, for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock, sherry and 1 tsp salt and plenty of pepper. Bring it to the boil and then simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
• Process the soup in a blender until smooth, then return it to the rinsed pan. Reheat slowly without allowing the soup to boil, stirring occasionally. Check the seasoning.
• Ladle the soup into heated bowls, garnish with the toasted almonds and a little parsley and serve immediately.