This recipe for Clams Casino was tailored from my husband’s Aunt Donna. Made from canned clams and a set of clam shells older than me, they’re a household custom that all of us look ahead to and now she is keen to share them with YOU!
Aunt Donna makes trays (and once I say trays, I imply like catering-fashion) of Clams Casino for practically each occasion across the holidays. When she initially despatched me the recipe it learn one thing like a “51-ounce can of clams.” Welp, since most individuals will not be purchasing on the Italian grocery retailer that solely has cans to serve 100 relations, and subsequently don’t have entry to (nor want!) a 51-ounce can of something, I tailored this recipe all the way down to a extra widespread quantity.
In addition to this, I added garlic (I used to be aghast to see she didn’t have it in her personal!) and likewise cheese. But the recipe nonetheless showcases these little bites of deliciousness with a slice of scorching bacon and brilliant, contemporary lemon. It’s the star of any seven fishes meal.
Canned Clams vs Fresh Clams
Canned clams had been all the time used for this recipe for 3 causes. The first is that shopping for sufficient contemporary clams to make the sheer quantity wanted for my husband’s household would break the financial institution. The second is that it’s a ache within the butter to shuck that many. And the third is that we like utilizing bigger clam shells to suit extra stuffing in them.
Fresh clams are nice, however most are littleneck clams which even have tiny shells. Of course, you can even purchase giant clams and do the identical factor, however you’ll have to prepare dinner them and half of the shells go to waste.
The first time you make these, be at liberty to make use of contemporary clams and save the shells. Or merely purchase the shells off Amazon and go from there. Buying canned clams isn’t any completely different than getting canned tuna fish or shredded hen on the grocery retailer.
Ingredients
This traditional dish feels fancy nevertheless it’s really easy to make!
- Center Cut Bacon – Bacon provides its signature smoky goodness and crispy texture to Clams Casino.
- White Onion – Be positive to finely mince the onion into even-sized items.
- Bell Peppers – Using crimson, yellow, and orange bell peppers offers the filling a pop of shade.
- Fresh Cloves of Garlic – While you should utilize jarred garlic, freshly minced garlic could have the perfect taste.
- Dried Italian Seasoning – This mix of herbs balances out the flavors of the dish.
- Canned Chopped Clams – Be positive to empty the clams earlier than you begin prepping the dish. You don’t want these should you’re utilizing contemporary clams, although.
- Ritz Cracker Crumbs – This helps to bind the stuffing collectively. Adjust it as wanted relying on the tactic you’re utilizing.
- Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese – Always grate your cheese freshly off the block in order that it has the perfect taste and melts superbly into your dish.
- Flat Parsley, Chopped For Garnish – This elective garnish makes for a classy presentation.
- Fresh Lemon Slices – Serve these on the facet in order that they are often squeezed onto the cooked clams.
Variations
While this recipe is a conventional model of the dish, you may make some modifications to place your personal spin on it.
- Heat – Add a splash of scorching sauce to the stuffing or sprinkle in some crushed crimson pepper or cayenne pepper powder.
- Cheese – Instead of Parmigiano Reggiano attempt Pecorino Romano or sharp cheddar.
- Citrus – Try utilizing lime as an alternative of lemon.
- Bread Crumbs – Swap out a few of the Ritz crackers for panko breadcrumbs.
- Herbs – Use your personal mix of contemporary or dried herbs. Oregano, salt, black pepper, and thyme all work effectively.
- Meat – Instead of bacon attempt utilizing diced pancetta.
- Wine – You can use a splash of dry white wine to deglaze the pan after cooking the bacon. This will add somewhat further taste from the wine and from the brown bits within the backside of the pan.
- Protein – Swap out the clams for different shellfish.
How to Make Clams Casino
There are a number of alternative ways to make this clams on line casino recipe relying on whether or not you’re utilizing contemporary clams, canned clams, or shells.
Clams Casino from Canned Clams
- Prepare the bacon. Using a pointy knife or kitchen shears, slice a portion of the bacon evenly into small items earlier than putting it in a pan. Once crispy, switch it to a plate lined with paper towels and switch the warmth to low. Allow about 3 tablespoons of bacon fats to stay within the pan. If you don’t have sufficient, you may add somewhat olive oil.
- Saute. Place the chopped bell pepper within the pan and saute till they soften barely. Place the onion within the pan with the peppers and proceed to prepare dinner. Then, sprinkle within the Italian seasoning and garlic and prepare dinner briefly earlier than taking the pan off of the stovetop.
- Make the stuffing. Place the drained clams, cracker crumbs, Parmigiano Reggiano, bell pepper combination, and cooked bacon in a medium mixing bowl. Use a rubber spatula to softly mix.
- Assemble. Place the clam shells onto the ready baking sheet and fill them with the stuffing. Then, minimize the remainder of the bacon into strips and prime every of the crammed clam shells with 2 strips.
- Bake. Put the tray of stuffed clam shells into the oven and bake. In the ultimate minutes of cooking, flip the oven to broil. Once the bacon is crispy, take the clams out of the oven.
- Garnish and serve. Use tongs to switch the cooked Clams Casino to a serving platter. Place the chopped parsley on prime of the clams and serve alongside lemon wedges.
Clams Casino with out Shells
You will want a further 2 tablespoons reserved clam juice and 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs
- Prepare the bacon. Using a pointy knife or kitchen shears, slice all the bacon evenly into small items earlier than putting it in a pan. Once crispy, switch it to a plate lined with paper towels and switch the warmth to low. Allow about 3 tablespoons of grease to stay within the pan. If you don’t have sufficient, you should utilize somewhat olive oil.
- Saute. Place the chopped bell pepper within the pan and saute till they’re barely tender. Place the onion within the pan with the peppers and proceed to prepare dinner. Then, sprinkle within the Italian seasoning and stir within the garlic. Cook briefly earlier than taking the pan off of the stovetop.
- Make the stuffing. Place the drained clams, cracker crumbs (1 cup), Parmigiano Reggiano, bell pepper combination, and cooked bacon in a medium mixing bowl. Use a rubber spatula to softly mix.
- Bake. Transfer the clam combination to a casserole dish and bake.
- Garnish and serve. Top the cooked clam combination with parsley and a little bit of contemporary lemon juice. Serve instantly.
Clams Casino with Fresh Clams
- Cook clams. Cook the uncooked littlenecks in a pot within the oven till their shells start to open.
- Remove the clams. With a shucker or butter knife, open up the shells and take away the highest halves. Place the underside shell with the clam onto a ready baking sheet. Discard the highest shell of every clam or save them for the subsequent time you make the dish.
- Prep the filling. Follow the above instructions to create the stuffing.
- Assemble and bake. Use a small spoon to switch the combination to the shells with the clams and bake.
- Garnish and serve. Use tongs to switch the cooked Clams Casino to a serving platter. Place the parsley on prime and serve with lemon wedges.
What to Serve With Clams Casino
Clams Casino is a superb appetizer to serve by itself or with different appetizers like smoked salmon crackers and crab cake egg rolls. It’s additionally the proper starter for seafood-based mostly fundamental dishes like seafood paella, salmon, and shrimp scampi.
Of course, you may department out and serve different dishes apart from seafood! These clams are all the time a success when served earlier than (or alongside of) beef and even pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and genuine carbonara. You can even serve it with a easy lemon saffron risotto or creamy mushroom risotto.
Storage and Freezing
You can retailer leftovers — simply make sure to reheat them within the oven slightly than the microwave to keep away from having them develop into rubbery.
If you wish to save somewhat time on the day you might be planning to serve this dish, you may crisp the bacon and put together the stuffing the day earlier than. Just retailer them within the fridge and fill the clam shells (should you’re utilizing them) whenever you’re able to bake.
How to Store Clams Casino
Transfer the clam shells to an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as two days.
Can I Freeze Clams Casino?
Freeze the clams in a freezer-secure container for as much as 3 months. Allow them to thaw in a single day earlier than reheating.
Common Questions
The dish’s identify comes from the truth that it was born on the Narragansett Pier Casino. Julius Keller, the on line casino’s maître d’hôtel, is credited with crafting the dish in 1917.
Clams Casino combines contemporary or canned clams with a cracker-based mostly herb-infused stuffing studded with crispy bacon and colourful bell peppers, all topped with extra bacon.
This dish is made tasty with the pairing of delicate clams with a buttery, bacony stuffing all balanced with seasonings and naturally candy bell peppers. Texturally the dish is balanced, too, with crispy bacon and barely softened bell peppers mingly with softened crackers within the stuffing.
Other Savory Seafood Recipes
Can’t get sufficient seafood? Same right here! We have lots extra seafood recipes which are as straightforward as they’re scrumptious.
This traditional Clams Casino recipe combines clams, crispy bacon, a buttery stuffing, and brilliant bell peppers for a crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Servings: giant shells
- 3/4 pound middle minimize bacon , divided
- 3/4 cup white onion , minced
- 1/3 cup crimson bell pepper , minced
- 1/3 cup yellow bell pepper , minced
- 1/3 cup orange bell pepper , minced
- 2 contemporary cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 18 ounces canned chopped clams , drained
- 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons parmigiano reggiano cheese , freshly and finely grated
- flat parsley , chopped for garnish, elective
- contemporary lemon slices
Clams Casino from Canned Clams:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a big rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for straightforward clear up (elective).
Cut 1/2 pound of the bacon into small items. Heat a medium skillet over medium warmth. Cook the bacon till crispy. Remove utilizing a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the bacon grease and scale back warmth to low.
Add the chopped bell pepper, cooking for two-3 minutes. Add the onion, cooking for a further 2 minutes. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 extra minute. Remove from the warmth and put aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix the drained clams, cracker crumbs, parmigiano reggiano cheese and the bell pepper combination and the cooked bacon. Fold gently till simply combined.
Arrange the clam shells on a baking sheet. Spoon the combination evenly into every shell.
Using a pair of kitchen shears, minimize the remaining strips of bacon into 1/2 inch strips. Place 2 uncooked strips excessive of every stuffed clam.
Bake uncovered for quarter-hour. Increase the warmth to broil and cooking bacon is crispy and brown, anyplace from 2-5 minutes relying in your oven. Remove and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Serve clams with the contemporary lemon wedges.
If you’ve tried this recipe, come again and tell us the way it was within the feedback or star rankings.
Clams Casino with out Shells (you will have a further 2 tablespoons reserved clam juice and 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs):
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a small 1-quart casserole dish with cooking spray, put aside.
Cut the bacon (all of it) into small items. Heat a medium skillet over medium warmth. Cook the bacon till crispy. Remove utilizing a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 3-4 tablespoons of the bacon grease and scale back warmth to low.
Add the chopped bell pepper, cooking for two-3 minutes. Add the onion, cooking for a further 2 minutes. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 extra minute. Remove from the warmth and put aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix the drained clams, cracker crumbs (1 cup whole), parmigiano reggiano cheese, bell pepper combination, cooked bacon and reserved 2 tablespoons of clam juice. Fold gently till simply combined.
Spoon the combination within the casserole dish.
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Spritz with the contemporary lemon wedges.
Clams Casino with Fresh Clams:
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place 2 dozen uncooked littleneck in a baking dish and prepare dinner till they open barely, roughly 2-3 minutes. Pry them open utilizing an oyster shucker or butter knife. Discard the highest half of the clam shell. Using the tip of the knife or a seafood fork, dislodge the clam from the shell. Set apart.
Prepare the filling as directed, leaving out the chopped canned clams. Spoon the combination overtop of the entire clam in every shell. Cook based on the instructions.
