Cooking Instructions For Clams Casino Recipe

This is The Bald Chef’s recipe for Clams Casino. This is an easy seafood appetizer to make. I like using Little Neck Clams because they have better tasting meat. Clams are a natural food, and great care must be taken to make sure you are using the fresh product available. I buy my clams from the docks of DC at the fish market. The first step in making Clams Casino is to triple wash the clams in cold water to make sure all sand is removed from the clams. The next step is to shuck the clams, and cutting away the meat from the upper section of the clam. The best way to shuck a clam is to find the joint between the clam shell and using a shocker open up the clam. After you have shucked your 18 clams lay them out on a cookie sheet with both shells intact. Take your 5 slices of Apple Smoked Bacon and cut them up into 2 to 3 inch slices with a pair of succors. In a fry pan pre cook the bacon to remove some of the fat, and place on paper towels. In a Sauce pan add 2 tablespoons butter, and the 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic. Bring the butter garlic mixture up to heat to sweat out the oil in the garlic and the juice of 1 lemon. When the mixture is cooked round off 5 rounds cracked black pepper. Take your clams and spoon on the prepared garlic butter sauce and top with the pre cooked bacon. Pre heat your oven to broil and place your clams under the broiler. Cook for 4 or 5 minutes and remove the clams from the oven. Top each clam with a little bit of shredded Parmesan Cheese return the clams to the oven and cook until the cheese has melted. Remove the clams from the oven, and remove the meatless shell, and serve.