One of the most pleasurable activities of summer is digging into a pile of fresh, steamed seafood with your hands. Enjoy this impressive-looking and delicious feast before summer’s end!
I hadn’t previously cooked fresh clams before because of their easily-perishable state, but thanks to our amazing seafood CSA, Sea Forager (seriously, the best subscription service I’ve ever signed up for), we were treated to a large batch of beautiful, juicy clams that I got to try my hand with.
I concocted a spruced-up riff off of a simple white wine-steamed clam recipe, adding some large shrimp (shell-on, to maximize juiciness) for variety and meaty bacon and aromatic herbs to build a more complex flavor profile.
We made quick work of our bounty, which we accompanied with a fresh loaf of Acme pain epi to soak up the rich sauce. We loved every bite and if you enjoy shellfish, I know you will too! I recommend making this for someone special for an easy but memorable intimate dinner.
Steamed Clams & Shrimps with Bacon & White Wine
Ingredients
- 50 small-to-medium clams in shell, scrubbed (1-1 ½ lbs)
- 12-15 large shrimp (~1/2 lb)
- 2 T extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, minced
- 2 slices of cooked bacon, diced
- 2 T dried Italian herb blend
- 1 C white wine
- 2 T butter
- 1/2 t chicken bouillon (optional)
- 1 T heavy cream, 1 T half-and-half, OR 2 T milk (optional)
- fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Storing clams
Clams should be transported upon freshwater ice, covered with a damp towel or cloth, and given fresh air to breathe (e.g. not in a closed plastic bag). Store the clams in a refrigerator at 35 degree Fahrenheit, in an open container and covered with a damp cloth to prevent from drying out.
Treated accordingly, fresh clams can last a few days in the refrigerator, but it’s recommended to eat them within 24 hours. Discard any clams with open shells or those that do not close when lightly squeezed, as well as any that have broken shells.
Directions
- Wash clams to remove any dirt or sand.
- In a large pot or deep skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and shallot and sauté for 1 minute, or until tender and fragrant. Add bacon and sauté for another minute.
- Pour in the white wine and bring the heat up to medium. Stir in dry Italian herb blend. Let mixture boil until wine has reduced to half of its original volume.
- Add clams, cover, and steam just until clams start to open. Add butter, cover, and cook until most or all of the clams open. Discard any that do not open.
- Remove and drain clams and place aside.
- Add shrimp to the wine mixture in the skillet, stir, and let simmer until they are pink and cooked, about 2 minutes.
- Remove and drain shrimps and add to clams. Toss lightly.
- If desired, add chicken base and cream/milk to cooking mixture in pot/skillet, to taste. Stir well to dissolve and let simmer for a minute.
- Pour entirety of cooking mixture over the clams and shrimp. Serve in a single large bowl, or in smaller individual bowls. Garnish with fresh basil and immediately serve with hot bread. Bon appetit!
Would you try a variation of this recipe? What’s your favorite summertime food/recipe? Please share your suggestions below, I’d love to check them out!
xoxo,
p.s. Below is a Pinterest-ready collage of the recipe for your reference!
This is clam clam shrimp shrimp goodness. A virtual tongue-gasm. Whether eating with bread or noodles this will get your culinary goat. The aray of herbs, garlic and seafood flavors make a dynamic flavor for your palette. Seafood Jesus is the only way this plate can be described because if you don’t believe in the mouth watering delicatableness of this meal than you are going straight to hell.
I love the idea of adding bacon and white wine to the clams and shrimp (two of my favorite things!) But what I love even more is the recipe under “you might also like” for the roasted artichokes, talk about my dinner tomorrow night!
What a delicious recipe! I want to try this out, I love clams!
Oh this looks lovely, I totally try this but without the bacon since I can’t eat pork 🙂
Ohhh em geee that looks so delicious!!!
i wonder if there’s something similar to sea forager in vegas. we’re landlocked.. but i’m always surprised by all the restaurants with really fresh fish.
My boyfriend would LOVE if I made this. Thanks for the recipe!
My husband would love this!
This looks so yummy! My mom and I both love seafood so much and just last week we were talking about wanting to make something special at home!
This looks so good. My grandpa loves seafood and would probably love this too !
Looks good. Pinning for my daughter who only eats seafood and no other meat.
Oh my goodness I love your photos and that is making me hungry. I’mma have to try this
Looks tasty! I’m not a big fan of seafood, but I’ll admit clams and shrimp are pretty darn delicious 🙂
This looks sooo yummy. Love love love even though I am so not great at cooking it. I am gonna give this a try for sure!
I love seafood, but I admit I’m a little scared to cook live clams. But this is a great post.
Seafood is one of my favorites! And this recipe looks so yummy!
Wow! I have never cooked with live clams before. I’m going to pin this and try it out 🙂
Ooh goodness! This looks amazing – my husband would love it!
Great pictures!!
we don’t eat seafood but your photos are gorgeous! =)
Too bad I’m allergic…looks delish!
I love seafood. This looks delicious!
I’ve honestly never had clams before. I think this looks so good. I love the way you did step by step with pictures, for people like me I need that!
Clams are my FAVORITE seafood – and this recipe looks amazing! If only my husband liked them as much as I do…maybe I’ll just have to make them for myself sometime 😉
Oh my…. I just drooled all over my laptop! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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OHHH EMM GEE! This looks so yummy! Your photos while cooking were awesome and dead on!
Oh, man, that looks amazing. I’m going to have to try it…
Delicious!
I love seafood, so this is right up my alley! I may have to try this recipe out!
I bet I’d love this. Coming from Newfoundland, Canada I miss all the fresh seafood. Then again I moved to the other side of the ocean, to San Francisco – so I guess I can’t really say I can’t get access to it, haha.
I’m not a big shellfish person but this looks pretty yummy!!
Oh my goodness, I love steamed seafood and that recipe looks amazing! I might have to try this sometime soon. 🙂
Michelle