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Summertime is all about seafood: steamed clams, clambake, seafood boil, lobster rolls, crawfish boil, summer seafood stew, etc.
What Clams Are Best for Steaming?
For the best steamed clams, use the following types of clams:
- Steamers. Also known as soft-shell clams (the shells aren’t actually soft), these clams have a longer siphon that sticks outside of its shell.
- Littlenecks. These are small, hard-shell Atlantic clams. Littlenecks are popular because they are very sweet and tender.
- Cherrystones. Medium-sized quahogs.
- Manila. These hard shell clams are similar to Cherrystones, but the meat is sweeter and the clams originate from Japan.
For this recipe, I use Manila clams, but you can use any of the clams mentioned above, including soft shell clams.
Other Clams Recipes You Might Like
How to Pick Fresh Clams
It’s important to use fresh, live clams for the best steamed clam recipe.
To make sure the clams are alive, give them a sniff (it should have a fresh, clean sea scent). Also, the shells should be tightly closed.
If the shell is slightly open, give it a quick tap – the shell should quickly close. If it doesn’t close, discard the clam.
How to Store Fresh Clams
It’s best to steam clams as soon as possible after bringing them home from the market. If you won’t be cooking them immediately, follow these instructions to store them properly:
Remove them from the bag/packaging.
Put the clams into a large, uncovered bowl.
Store the fresh clams in the refrigerator for up to two days.
How to Clean Clams before Steaming
To remove any sand in soft-shell clams, soak them in cold, salted for a few hours before steaming.
Hard-shell clams can be prepared by scrubbing them with a stiff brush under cold running water.
Steamed Clams Recipe
Learning how to steam clams is quick and easy. Just follow these tips:
- When you steam clams on the stove, be sure to use a deep skillet with a lid.
- Properly clean the clams before making steamed clams.
How Many Calories per Serving?
These steamed clams are 106 calories per serving.
What to Serve with This Recipe
This meal is best served with crusty bread such as Texas Toast or garlic bread. For a healthy meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
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Steamed Clams in Beer
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (1kg) Manila clams or little neck clams
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 7 oz (200g) beer
- ground black pepper
- 3 slices lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Clean and scrub the clams with cold water. Drain and set aside.
- Set up a skillet with the butter, add the garlic and saute until aromatic or light brown in color. Add the clams, stir a few times before adding the beer. Add the pepper, lemon and chopped parsley. Stir to combine well.
- Cover the lid of the skillet and steam on high heat for 2-3 minutes, or until all the clams open up. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
What can I sub beer for?
White wine or cooking sake or rice wine.
Wow can’t wait to try ? beer you might recommend I’m a Guinness and Sierra Nevada fan.
Hi Loren, any beer you like.
Very much enjoyed the recipe! Family enjoyed it very much. Recommended as it does not require alot of different ingredients!
Awesome, please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Excellent steamed clam recipe! Sopped up the broth with your garlic bread recipe.
P.S.
Are your viewers allowed to see WHO WINS in your “Promotional Give Away” program?
Hi Carol, thanks for trying this beer steamed clams recipe. Yes, I have a winners list: https://rasamalaysia.com/giveaway-winners/ or you can go to each individual giveaway to see the winner’s name. If there is no name yet, it means the winner hasn’t responded.
Thanks for your all posts! ??
Thanks for your support Joanne.
Looks yummy! Cant wait to lay my hands on these clams and start cooking!
By the way, we still need to de-sand them first right? Eg soaking in cold water with salt or parsley?
Yeah, you can. The clams we get in USA has no sands so I don’t soak them.