Published Jun 26, 2024 Updated Sep 18, 2024 If you’re a local or have visited Redondo Beach, you’ll know it’s renowned for its fresh seafood. Numerous seafood shacks sell everything from fresh oysters to blue crab and Dungeness crab, lobster, various types of clams like razor clams and more, attracting both locals and tourists alike. Whenever I go there, I always buy steamer clams; I’m absolutely in love with these clams. They have thin, fragile white shells with a siphon sticking out, which is why they’re also called soft-shell clams in some regions. They aren’t easily available on the West Coast of the United States, typically found along the Atlantic coast. If you’re not on the Atlantic coast, finding steamer clams might be difficult, but you can certainly use any clams available in your area, such as Manila clams. For an Asian-inspired clam dish, you might want to try Thai steamed clams, Korean clam soup, or Japanese steamed clams. Sidenote: Technically, ‘soft-shell clam’ refers to various types of clams with thin shells. However, along the Atlantic coast, ‘soft-shell clam’ mostly refers to steamer clams. The best way to enjoy them is steamed with garlic, herbs, butter, and white wine. The clam juice is savory and absolutely delicious, and you may not even need salt in the recipe! I always savor every drop of it. Alternatively, you can soak it up with slices of French baguette. You may also enjoy the broth with a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of black pepper, depending on your taste preferences. Overall, the clam juice from steamer clams is prized for its briny, seafood-rich taste and can be enjoyed in various ways to fully appreciate its essence. Why is my New England garlic butter steamers recipe the best? Here are the reasons:
Easy prep and short cooking time: Seafood lovers rejoice because this recipe is incredibly easy and quick to prepare, giving you more time to savor the deliciousness of the clams. Versatile recipe: Serve the clams as they are, or pair them with a simple spaghetti dish. If you’re short on time, simply boil spaghetti and serve it with the clams and their savory broth as the main entrée.
Steamers or soft shell clams Garlic Butter White Wine Parsley
This recipe for steamer clams is incredibly simple, easy, and quick, ready in just 15 minutes from prep to dinner table. Refer to the recipe card for detailed ingredient information. Sidenote: The black coloration on the top of siphon is natural pigmentation, due to by environmental factors in their habitat. It’s normal and you do not need to cut off the black end on the siphon of a steamer clam. You may pull of and remove the membrane covering the siphon and eat the rest of it. Step 1: Heat up a small pot and add the melted butter. Sauté the garlic until you smell the aroma, but not browned. Steam the soft shell clams in the pot, stirring to combine well. Add the white wine and cover the pot with its lid.
Pro Tip: Discard any clams that remain unopened after cooking, as they may be bad. Additionally, avoid consuming clams with partially open shells that emit an unpleasant odor.
Other Recipes You Might Like
If you are a seafood lover like me, you will love these recipes.
Garlic Butter Lobster Tail Lobster Roll Beer Steamed Clams Baked Cod Grilled Shrimp Baked King Crab Snow Crab
