New England Steamed Clams

20m
Prep Time
10m
Cook Time
30m
Ready In


"If you are having Steamed Clams as an appetizer, plan on 1/2-1 pound per person. If you are having them for a meal, plan on 2-4 pounds per person, depending on how much they like them! I have been known to eat 6 pounds myself, when I wanted to sit and just "pig out" on them!"

Original is 3 servings

Nutritional

  • Serving Size: 1 (2261.8 g)
  • Calories 1425.8
  • Total Fat - 57 g
  • Saturated Fat - 31.2 g
  • Cholesterol - 461.5 mg
  • Sodium - 6858.5 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate - 54 g
  • Dietary Fiber - 3 g
  • Sugars - 2.7 g
  • Protein - 167.9 g
  • Calcium - 512.1 mg
  • Iron - 19 mg
  • Vitamin C - 56.2 mg
  • Thiamin - 0.2 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Combine the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of the water in a large bowl to make a slurry.

Step 2

Add remaining 1/2 gallon of water.

Step 3

Add clams, and stir to submerge.

Step 4

Refrigerate so the clams will purge their sand, about 20 minutes. Lift the clams out of the water, leaving the sand on the bottom of the bowl.

Step 5

Meanwhile, bring the quart of hot water to a rolling boil, in a large pot, over high heat. (A pasta pot with a metal insert works great.)

Step 6

Carefully add the clams, so as not to break their shells, or get burned.

Step 7

Cover, and cook until the clams are firm, but not overcooked, about 10 minutes.

Step 8

Remove clams with a large slotted spoon, and place in a large bowl.

Step 9

Ladle some of the cooking liquid from the top of the pot, so as to leave the sand on the bottom of the pot, into a small bowl. Combine the lemon juice and melted butter. Set both aside.

Step 10

To eat the clams using your hands, remove the clam from the shell.

Step 11

Peel the outer, dark skin from the “neck”. Holding the clam by the now-clean neck swish the clam in the small bowl of cooking water to further remove any sand or sediment. (This gives a whole new meaning to rinse and repeat.)

Step 12

Dip the clam in melted butter with lemon added.

Tips


  • Large pot with cover

7 Reviews

LuLuJ

Oh these are so good, nothing better! Dipped in the broth, then that delicious butter. Mmmm good!

5.0

review by:
(29 Jan 2021)

LindasBusyKitchen

I had a delicious dinner with friends tonight and the clams were cooked perfectly. Dipped in butter and Malt vinegar, they were succulent! Thank you for this recipe Sal. My friend used it to cook them up! Linda

5.0

(14 Jul 2020)

Beth

Easy and delicious way to make clams. We love the butter with the lemon. It made the clams taste so good!

5.0

review by:
(3 Jun 2019)

MainEAck

We loved these steamed clams. We have had them several times in the past few weeks. Very good!

5.0

review by:
(31 Aug 2014)

JaneyFL

We had a lobster and clam feed and making the clams like this was delicious. They were tender and tasted so good dipped in drawn butter.

5.0

review by:
(1 Sep 2013)

WiggiesStickeyRibs

I had a bunch of family over for a lobster and clam feed and I wanted to see how the clams came out using an actual recipe. These clams were so tender and cooked to perfection!

5.0

(30 Aug 2013)

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