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 Clams Cassino | Status Approved | | Name | Clams Cassino | | Category | Appetizers & Snacks, Italian, Fish & Seafood | | Serves/Yields | About 12 servings, 2 per person | | Source | Kate's own | | Difficulty | Moderate | | Prep. Time | About 1 hour | | Cook Time | 4 to 6 minutes | | Introduction | | No I didn't spell it wrong. In Italy, there is a beautiful abbey high on a mountain, Monte Cassino. The name is prounced exactly like the English Casino. This is my variation on an old favorite, with an Italian flair. Serve these tasty morsels with cocktails or as an appetizer. | | Ingredients | | 2 dozen Littleneck clams (the largest size available) 8 oz red pepper flavored butter (recipe below) 1/2 cup thick sliced , diced prosciutto 1/2 cup bread crumbs 2 Tbsp olive_oil 1/4 cup extra_virgin_olive_oil 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley , finely minced plus extra for garnishing Pinch of red_pepper_flakes 1/4 tsp ground oregano Sea_salt to taste
Red Pepper Herb Butter 1 cube softened butter 1/2 cup chopped roasted red pepper , from a jar, drained well or fresh roasted red bell pepper 1 tsp chopped garlic 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves | | Directions | | Step: 1 | Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.In a heavy skillet, add a little olive oil and when hot, add the diced prosciutto. Cook, stirring often until crisp. Drain on paper towels. | | Step: 2 | Hold the clams in a cloth and insert a knife between the shells. Pry the shells apart, then sever the hinge muscle and discard the top shell. Cut the muscle under the clam in the lower shell. Keep clams in the fridge on ice in a pan while you prepare the topping. | | Step: 3 | In a bowl combine the bread crumbs, olive oil, seasonings, parsley and proscuitto. Taste and add salt as needed. Place 1/2 tsp of the pepper butter over each clam. Place a tablespoon of the bread crumb mixture over the butter. Moisten your fingers with water and pat the crumb mixture gently over the clam. Place a layer of rock salt in the bottom of a baking pan. Arrange the clams on the salt. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes. Place the clams on a salt covered platter and garnish with parsley . | | Step: 4 | For Red Pepper Herb Butter: Place butter, garlic and red pepper in a food processor with the steel blade, or blender container. Blend until smooth.Add basil and process very briefly, just until basil is chopped |
Time submitted: Monday, March 05. 2007 at 09:30:51 Contributed By: Kate
Rate ItAverage score: 3.69 ( ) votes: 13 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Comments
No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register Re: Clams Cassino (Score 1) By Kate on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 @ 05:39:54 CET (User Info | Send a Message) | | My daughter Erica said these are a real winner, I managed to get two, and almost had to hide in the closet to eat them! |
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