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Looking for simple gourmet summer dining ideas? If so, steamed clams are hard to beat. You can whip up a delicious steamed clam dinner in under 30 minutes with only a handful of ingredients. Ready to plan a steamed clams night? I’ve provided four of my favorite steamed clams recipes below. Pick the one that sounds best to you and grab some clams. Don’t forget a chilled bottle of white wine and some crusty bread for dipping in clam butter!
Four Simple Steamed Clams Recipes
Here are four of my favorite simple steamed clams recipes. We like them as entrees but they also work as appetizers. You can make them all in 30 minutes or less – simple summer gourmet at its best. Enjoy your meal in your favorite alfresco dining space!
Simple Steamed Clams with White Wine and Garlic
This steamed clams with white wine and garlic recipe is a summertime classic. It’s perfect for dining alfresco. If you are new to steamed clams, this is a recipe to get you started. Be sure to pair it with a big loaf of crusty bread for soaking up the white wine and garlic butter. A cold bottle of white wine or rose is also a must. Serve it as an appetizer or entree.
Linguine and Clams
This linguine and clams recipe is one of my absolute favorites. It’s quite similar to the steamed clams with white wine and garlic but you add pasta to your delicious clam butter. This is a great entree for summer entertaining. You can prep all the ingredients in advance so it will only take a few minutes to whip it all together. Your guests will be impressed with your gourmet cooking skills!
Simple Steamed Clams in Spicy Chile Butter
If you like a little heat, give this steamed clams in spicy chili butter recipe a try. While the traditional white wine and garlic combo is hard to beat, this recipe is certainly in the running. The freshness of the cherry tomatoes, lemon, and cilantro pairs well with the spicy chili butter.
Clams in a Spicy Red Sauce
This clams in a spicy red sauce recipe is another great option for simple summer dinners. I love the fennel in this recipe. It adds great flavor and pairs well with the fresh tomato. We like to pair this with garlic bread but any crusty bread or ciabatta will work.
Pairings for Simple Steamed Clams
Steamed clams typically need some kind of carbohydrate for soaking up the delicious clam butter. We typically use a loaf of crusty french bread or ciabatta bread that’s been lightly grilled. No bread necessary for the linguine and clams option (but sometimes we add it anyway). If you are looking for sides, a simple green salad with a vinaigrette works well.
What about the wine? Yes, steamed clams need wine – both in the dish and to drink. I can’t imagine serving steamed clams without a cold bottle of wine. I usually go for a dry acidic white wine. The three varieties that I like most for pairing with clams are: Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, and Txakolina.
Simple Steamed Clams FAQ
For these recipes, I recommend littleneck clams, manila clams, or cherrystone clams.
Clams are fairly easy to find. Higher-end grocery stores like Wegmans or Whole Foods often have them in the seafood section. Littleneck clams are probably the easiest to find. Seafood markets are even more likely to carry clams. Asian markets are another good place to look for clams and fresh seafood. Our Asian market has many varieties of clams including razor clams and manila clams (my favorite). You can also order clams from online vendors such as Taylor Shellfish but prices are high for these options.
In 2022, I’ve been buying littleneck clams for around $4 to $5 a pound (in 50 count bags) from Wegman’s. I’ve also been buying manila clams for $6 to $7 a pound from our Asian market. As far as seafood goes, that’s not too bad. More than mussels or squid but less than I pay for most fish.
Live clams can be stored in your refrigerator. I place my clams in a large colander and rinse them with cold water as soon as I get home from the store. Then I put the colander on a plate or set it in a bowl and store it in the back of the fridge. You can also store clams in a bowl or breathable bag but I prefer the colander method. It is best to buy clams the day you plan to cook them.
Clams don’t require much cleaning (assuming you bought them from a market). Place them in a colander and give them a good rinse with cold water. I also recommend soaking them before you cook them. Put them in a large bowl and fill it with cold tap water. Let the clams soak for 20 to 30 minutes. This will help them expel any remaining sand and grit. Note: Don’t soak clams for long periods – they will die.
Steaming time varies by clam variety. Manila clams typically take 3 to 5 minutes to open up. Littleneck clams typically take 5 to 7 minutes. Cherrystone clams typically take 8 to 12 minutes. Note: You will hear your clams clicking against the side of the pan as they begin to open. You can give the pot a shake or stir once they begin opening to make sure they have enough room.
Nope. All you need is a big pot with a lid. I’ve included a few of my favorite kitchen tools for cooking and serving clams below.
Favorite Kitchen Items for Steamed Clams
You don’t really need any fancy kitchen items for steaming clams. That said, I would recommend a big pot with a lid, a colander, and a large slotted spoon for fishing clams from the pot. For serving, you will want at least two big bowls (one for the clams and one for people to discard the shells). I love melamine ones for outdoor dining. Lastly, a wine bucket to keep your wine chilled is an excellent addition.
