Baked Clams

Total Time: 24 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 9 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 24 medium clams, each about 2 inches across, see note
• 4 slices bacon, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup dry unseasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons clam juice, liquid from clams

Recipe

• 1 discard any clams that are cracked, chipped or open. soak in a bowl of water for 20 minutes to clean.
• 2 meanwhile, cook bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat for 6 minutes or until crispy. set on paper towels to drain.
• 3 once clams have soaked, scrub one by one with a brush to remove any additional sand or barnacles.
• 4 fill a large pot with a steamer insert with 1 inch of water. heat to simmering, add clams and cover. cook, covered, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until all shells open up. take off heat; remove clams from pan, reserving liquid. let clams cool slightly. pull off top shell and remove clam from shell to a cutting board. coarsely chop clams.
• 5 heat broiler. place 24 clam shells on a baking sheet. in a large bowl, combine clams, bacon, bread crumbs, parmesan, oregano, garlic powder and black pepper. stir to blend. drizzle with olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the reserved cooking liquid. stir until moist. spoon stuffing into clam shells, deviding equally.
• 6 broil stuffed clams for 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on top. serve warm.
• 7 note: if you are unable to hand-pick the clams, order a few extra in case some are damaged and have to be dicarded.