Elegant Baked Clams Casino Recipe

Clams casino sounds like something James Bond would nibble on while sipping his shaken-not-stirred vodka martini. Clams casino is one of those dishes from yesteryear that has an origin story that few people can nail down. According to Eater, Julius Keller claimed he created clams casino around 1917 when he worked in Rhode Island at the Narragansett Pier Casino, which was actually a resort and not a casino. Whether or not Keller's claim is accurate, clams casino is still today a popular dish in New England. 

Recipes for clams casino are as varied as the restaurants that serve them. But Kit Hondrum of Kit's Kitchen has developed a recipe that revives the classic version of clams casino. "I lived in New England for a few years," Hondrum says, "and this is a classic dish in that region, seen on almost every seafood restaurant menu alongside 'stuffies.'" Her recipe makes an elegant appetizer or first course that's perfect for a birthday or anniversary dinner, a date night, or the start to welcome in the new year on New Year's Eve with a glass of bubbly. 

It all starts with the fresh clams, and they can be littlenecks or cherrystones. "Be sure to check [that] all clams are alive," Hondrum advises, and be sure to "discard any that do not close their shells when gently tapped." When in doubt, toss it out. "Better safe than sorry," Hondrum adds. The recipe calls for 12 clams, but make it a baker's dozen, in case one doesn't survive the drive home from the fish market. 

Clams casino traditionally has three other main ingredients: bread crumbs, bell pepper, and bacon. Hondrum opts for panko bread crumbs because of their extra-crispy texture, and thick-cut bacon, which will exude a bit more fat than regular cut, which is then drizzled over the clams before popping them under the broiler. 

You'll also need a shallot, lemon, garlic, salted butter, dry white wine, Worcestershire sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper. Additionally, you'll want to make sure you have some rock salt on hand for your baking dish. Before you start preparing this recipe though, you need to take an important first step with the clams. 

Scrub the clams well, and then they need to be purged. "Purging the clams means to let them sit in salted water," Hondrum explains, "and purge out any sand and silt that they may have inside." Fill a bowl or jar with very cold, heavily salted water (with the "saltiness of seawater"), leaving enough room for the clams. Gently pace the clams in the water, and allow them to sit for 30 minutes. Sand and silt will collect on the bottom as the clams filter the water through their shells. 

After 30 minutes, lift them carefully out of the water to prevent the sand from rising up. Preheat the broiler, and spread the clams on a baking sheet pan. Broil the clams for about five minutes, or until their shells pop open. Take the clams out of the oven, and let them cool long enough so you can handle them. 

Slide a shucking knife into the clam to separate the flesh from the top shell. Twist the knife to pry the shell open, and twist off the top shell with your hands. Reserve as much of the clam liquid in the bottom shell as possible. Shuck the rest of the clams, and set them aside.

Dice four slices of the thick-cut bacon, and add the diced bacon to a skillet. Heat over medium heat, and cook the bacon pieces for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the bacon edges begin crisping up. Dice ¼ of a red bell pepper, ¼ of a green bell pepper, and a small shallot. Add the vegetables to the skillet with the bacon, and sauté for two minutes, stirring to ensure the peppers and shallot are evenly cooked. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon and vegetables to a bowl, and reserve the rendered bacon fat for drizzling over the clams later.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of panko bread crumbs, ¼ cup of melted salted butter, 1 large garlic clove that's been pressed or grated, 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley, 2 tablespoons of Parmigiano-Reggiano, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons of dry white wine, the juice of half a lemon, ½ teaspoon of sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together well. 

Spoon the seasoned bread crumbs on top of each clam and gently pack it down with the back of the spoon or with your hands. Transfer the clams to the baking sheet you used to broil them. Spoon the bacon and bell peppers on top of each clam, distributing the mixture evenly. Drizzle a little of the bacon drippings over each clam. Cut the other half of the lemon into wedges for serving.

You'll be broiling the clams again, so use an oven-safe seafood platter, skillet, or baking dish. Add 1/2 inch of rock salt in the bottom of the platter (or other cooking vessel), and spread it in an even layer. Arrange the clams on top of the rock salt, which will prevent the clams from tipping over. Turn on the broiler, and put the platter 6 inches below the heating element. Broil on high for five to seven minutes, or until the breadcrumbs begin to brown. 

Take the platter out of the oven, garnish the clams with the remaining parsley, and immediately serve the clams casino on the platter with lemon wedges on the side. "This recipe takes clams to another level," Hondrum says. "[It's] sure to convert even the most adamant clam haters!"