Indulge in the delightful flavors of succulent whole belly clams, expertly coated in a crispy, golden-brown batter and cooked to perfection. These delectable morsels, encased in their delicate shells, offer a symphony of textures and a burst of briny sweetness with every bite. Whether you prefer the classic deep-fried method or the healthier air-fryer alternative, this article presents a collection of recipes that cater to your culinary preferences. Discover the secrets to achieving that perfect balance of crispy coating and tender, juicy clam meat, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
FRIED WHOLE BELLY CLAMS
Crispy golden fried clams are crunchy, chewy and a little bit briny -- all in one bite. Great with homemade tartar sauce and fries.
Provided by Lisa Lotts
Categories Appetizer Main Course
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- In a small bowl combine all the ingredients and whisk together. Cover and refrigerate.
- We tried several methods to shuck the clams and by far, this was the easiest for us....
- Place the clams in a large bowl and rinse them several times with cold water to wash away the grit and sand on their shells. Cover the clams with fresh cold water and let them sit for 20 minutes so that they can expunge any excess grit in their siphons.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Drain the clams and add them to the pot. Blanch the clams for 20 seconds, then immediately drain the water off of them. Transfer the clams to a fresh bowl filled with cold water to stop the cooking.
- Pry the shell open with your fingers (this would be impossible to do if you didn't blanch them first.) Remove the clam and locate the black protruding neck (actually a siphon that they use to filter their food).
- Go to the base of the "neck" and pull the outer layer or membrane from the clam and discard. Cut the tip of the black siphon off and discard. Transfer the shucked clam (this includes the neck, belly and strip) to a bowl of fresh water. Continue to shuck the clams in this fashion.
- Change the water several times to make sure the grit has been removed from the clams and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, corn flour (or fine cornmeal), salt and cayenne pepper and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Use another medium bowl to combine the milk, buttermilk and egg with a whisk until well blended.
- Heat 2-3 inches of peanut oil in a deep fryer to 375°. Line a baking sheet with craft paper, newspaper or brown paper bags to soak up the oil.
- Dip the clams into the egg mixture and then toss them individually in the corn flour blend to coat.
- Fry the clams in batches with no more than 8-10 clams per batch. Cook each batch for 1-2 minutes or until the clams are crispy and golden. Using a spider, transfer the clams to the paper lined baking sheet to cool. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of salt. Continue frying and seasoning the clams in this manner.
- Serve the clams with simple tartar sauce and a wedge of lemon. Most New England clam shacks also serve them with french fries... I used a frozen bag of Alexia fries and crisped them in a convection oven... worked great!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 519 kcal, Carbohydrate 60 g, Protein 12 g, Fat 24 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 32 mg, Sodium 1285 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
FRIED IPSWICH WHOLE BELLY CLAMS WITH TARTAR SAUCE
Provided by Sandy Ingber
Categories Shellfish Appetizer Fry Seafood Clam Summer Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set up for what we call "standard breading procedure": Put the flour in a shallow bowl; put the eggs in a second shallow bowl and beat them with a fork; put the cracker meal, bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Old Bay in a third shallow bowl and whisk to combine.
- Spread the clams out on several layers of paper towels and blot them as dry as possible.
- Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 360°F.
- Toss the clams in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip the clams into the egg, coating them completely. Lift them out by the handful and let any excess egg drip off, then put the clams into the breading mixture and toss to coat them completely. Keep one hand dry and use the other hand for wet. Transfer to the baking sheet. If the breading begins to clump, put it through a coarse sieve.
- Fry the clams in small batches-crowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil and the clams will come out greasy-until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
- Pile the clams on 4 dinner plates and serve with individual bowls of tartar sauce-and some fries.
FRIED CLAMS
The clam's crunchy, golden coating will truly melt in your mouth. One bite and you'll understand why these are considered a delicacy! Tim Connolly, Freeport, Maine
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield 1 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a shallow bowl, combine 3/4 cup cornmeal and 1/4 cup flour with the water, forming a batter. In another bowl, combine the remaining cornmeal and flour., Dip clams in batter; shake off excess. Coat with cornmeal mixture., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry clams, a few at a time, for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with salt. , Serve immediately with sauce if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 127 calories, Fat 4g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 106mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
Tips:
- To ensure the clams are evenly cooked, make sure they are all roughly the same size.
- If you don't have a deep fryer, you can also fry the clams in a large pot or Dutch oven filled with oil.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the fryer or pot, as this will cause the oil temperature to drop and the clams to become soggy.
- Fry the clams in batches until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Serve the clams immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or lemon wedges.
Conclusion:
Frozen fried whole belly clams are a delicious and easy-to-make seafood appetizer or main course. By following the tips in this article, you can ensure that your clams are cooked to perfection and are crispy and flavorful. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy seafood dish, give frozen fried whole belly clams a try!
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