A simple, flavorful spicy clam dish that’s sure to please the appetite with almost no effort at all. They can be served as an appetizer or a main dish with pasta.
Spicy clammy goodness, wrapped up in garlic, butter and hot red pepper flakes. Add two cups of wine, and you’ve got yourself dinner and a drink! In my vast archive of recipes and my desire to always try something new, I sometimes forget to visit my old favorites.
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Chili and Garlic Steamed Clams
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2-3 1x
- Diet: Omnivore, Pescatarian
Description
Spicy clams, garlic, butter, and red pepper flakes make this a quick, flavorful weeknight meal. Add wine for a complete dinner!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) real butter
- 5 cloves fresh garlic
- 2 cups (473 ml) dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon heaping dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon heaping dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 36-50 fresh clams
Instructions
- Prep fresh clams by placing them in cool tap water and adding ½ teaspoon of black pepper.
- Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat (approximately 375°F/190°C) until melted.
- Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add white wine and spices until simmering. Add clams and cover.
- Cook over medium heat (approximately 300°F/150°C) until clams open, approximately 5-10 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open.
- Serve in bowls and ladle broth over them.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use unsalted butter and season the finished dish to taste.
- If you don’t have dry white wine, use chicken broth or clam juice instead.
- Store leftover clams and broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 100
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean the clams before cooking the Chili and Garlic Steamed Clams?
Soak the clams in cold water with salt for about 20 minutes to help them expel any sand. Rinse them under cold running water to remove any remaining grit.
Can I substitute the white wine in the recipe for something else?
Yes, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth as a non-alcoholic substitute, but it may alter the flavor profile slightly.
What type of hot red pepper flakes should I use for the Chili and Garlic Steamed Clams?
Use crushed red pepper flakes, which provide a good balance of heat without overwhelming the dish; adjust the amount based on your spice tolerance.
Fantasticly , delicious . I am an east coast man. My father dorve truck for 35 years. As a kid i would sometimes ride in the truck with him along the seashore.
Many times he would stop , we walked the sand , shore, and dig up clams out the sand. He would start a fire there on the shore and cook the clams . LOL, he really liked getting clams for free ! , LOL.
Anyways , that was the late 1950s and early 60s. Well i live in the midwest now and have to order clams from the east coast.
This recipe is very delicious … LOL, i did change one thing here , i used a good red wine instead of white wine. but that’s just me , lol, this recipie is very good !!!