I just solidified my plans for an upcoming trip to my friend’s house in Cape Cod and all the talk around fresh seafood and clam chowder got me in the mood for something that originated in the ocean. When I got to the fish market, they were selling clams and oysters on the half shell, and I decided to pick up some littleneck and cherrystone clams myself. At first, I wanted to fry them, but since I have been living of Bugles and iced coffee this week, I chose to err on the healthier side and do my own raw bar.
Yes, I know what you are thinking and, yes, eating raw clams and oysters is weird. They look like gross blobs of fat, and you have to slurp them down. It contradicts most dinning etiquette and eating raw food feel primal at best. But, I eat sushi and once my friend Molly introduced them to me at Fatty Crab, I got over it.
Raw clams, especially cherrystones, can be a bit tougher than raw oysters but are still light, briny and refreshing to eat. I paired mine with a basic mignonette sauce – a condiment of minced shallots, cracked pepper, and vinegar that is traditionally served with raw oysters.
After throwing together the sauce, I spooned it over the clams and ate the delicious, freaky looking, globular item in front of me. Très clammy.
When working with mollusks, it is important to make sure that they are fresh. Cracked or open shells indicate a dead mollusk and should be discarded, incinerated, or whatever. Just don’t eat it. After shucking, place the clams or oysters on the half shell on a bed of ice to keep fresh until ready to eat.
Kitchen Notes
Littleneck Clams with Mignonette
Ingredients
- 1 dozen 1 littleneck clams
- 1 Tbsp 15 ml dry white wine
- 3 Tbsp 45 ml sherry vinegar
- 1 Tbsp shallots, finely minced
- 1 tsp italian parsley, finely minced
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Scrub and clean the clams. Shuck the clams using an oyster knife to open the shell and detach the clam from the shell. Discard the top half of the shell.
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and chill. Serve with clams on the half shell.
richard says
been eating cherrystone clams with (or without) lemon for 70 years. Sushi for 60 years and still love them. The bigger the better!