I prefer to purge my clams in salted water so they still have that clean saltwater flavor. This will make sure you don’t have gritty clams when you eat them after cooking. Next, you’ll need to purge any sand out of the clams by soaking clams in cold water for about 2 hours. Simply give the clams a light scrub under cold water and rinse thoroughly. If not, it’s no big deal and you’ll just need to clean them yourself. Oftentimes, the outer shells will be muddy with some sand on the outside.Īlways ask your fishmonger if the clams have already been cleaned and purged. When purchasing clams you may need to do some work before cooking. Chowder- largest of the quahogs, Mainly chopped for soups and stews.”Ĭhowder clams are sometimes called Quahogs especially by northeastern natives.

Cherry stone- most popular for grilling or stuffed clams.Top Neck- medium size still tender enough to serve whole.Little neck- commonly steamed, sweet and tender.Countneck-smallest legally harvested clam.Their name for the mollusk was poquauhock which over time morphed into the word quahog by early English settlers.Ĭlams are named and classified based on size, the smaller clams are sweeter and more tender while larger clams have a tougher texture often chopped up for soups and chowders. Clams and other shellfish were the main sources of sustenance for the Native Americans of the Narragansett tribe.

The clams I grew up on all hail from the northeastern United States. You also have varieties like Atlantic and Pacific Razor Clams, along with the very peculiar-looking Geuduck clam.

These clams are small, sweet, and mainly served in pasta dishes or steamed and served with clarified butter. Other varieties like Manila clams found on the west coast. There are many different varieties of clams but the ones most commonly consumed are found in the northeastern United States. Later, in New Orleans, Oysters Casino became and remain very popular due to the abundance of oysters in the Mississippi and nearby gulf. The recipe traditionally includes clams, bell peppers, bacon, and breadcrumbs but there are many variations. Legend has it they were first served at the little Casino in Narragansett Rhode Island.Ĭreated as a special request of a woman who was looking to impress her guests. Jump to Recipe Print Recipe History of Clams CasinoĬlams Casino first showed up on menus in the early 1900s in the Northeastern United States.

Clams casino pasta recipe