A New England Tradition: Clam Bake Recipe

Celebrate the sunshine and being outdoors with the fun a traditional New England clam bake recipe brings to the table. Invite friends and family over for the ultimate seafood feast that is truly an event everyone will talk about.

Spread out the newspaper and get out the lobster crackers. There is nothing like the full sensory experience of a New England seafood boil. With an abundance of succulent treats from the sea, this is the perfect meal to celebrate with and also a celebration unto itself.

This easy-to-follow guide for a clam bake recipe will walk you through everything you need to recreate an authentic New England clambake at home while also giving you creative ideas to make it your own. So, get that butter melted and let’s dive in.

Introduction to Clam Bakes

Unless you are a true seafood lover of grew up in New England you might be wondering what is a clambake? While the idea of a clambake is most closely associated with New England and the east coast, it was actually a way to easily steam clams that was developed by Native Americans in Florida. Clams weren’t considered acceptable for human consumption and instead were fed to pigs.

Clams and a New England clambake didn’t become popular until after the Civil War when a Rhode Island businessman began opening clambake pavilions. This is the first known published recipe for clambakes.

The term clambake is slightly misleading as all of the seafood is more steamed than actually bake. Unlike boiled clams that call for a larger amount of liquid, you only need a little for the huge feast of seafood.

A traditional clam bake is usually prepared beachside. A firepit is dug, and seaweed is used to steam the clams. The term bake is actually a little misleading as not only is it actually steamed, but it usually includes other types of seafood including live lobsters. Other traditional ingredients include corn on the cob, potatoes, and onions layered between the seaweed.

Essential Ingredients

A traditional New England seafood boil is all about sourcing the freshest seafood. If you’ve never experienced one you might wonder what is in a clam bake? Aside from clams you’ll need other seafood options and the perfect aromatics and seasonings to enhance all of the natural flavors without overpowering the delicate flavors of the sweet and succulent seafood.

Seafood for a Clambake

• Clams – Different types of clams will give both a different flavor profile and also different textures. Steamer clams are traditional for a clam bake with their softer shells and meat that is more tender and sweeter. Littleneck clams are another popular choice as well as middleneck clams which are the same as littlenecks, just larger. Some recipes will call for quahog clams which are large hardshell clams, but these are usually reserved a baked clam recipe.
• Lobster – We might be biased here at LobsterAnywhere, but lobster truly does make everything better. Using whole live lobsters is a traditional addition to a New England seafood bake. It turns something that is already an even into a lasting memory. However, lobster tails also make a great addition to a clam bake. 6-7 oz medium tails and 8-10 oz jumbo tails are excellent choices.
• Shrimp – Shrimp adds a sweet note. Pick a larger shrimp like our colossal shrimp. In addition to help keep the shrimp from overcooking it also ensures you will have the freshest shrimp possible that is free of preservatives, additives, and antibiotics. They’re individually quick frozen giving you the best texture.

Aromatics

• Vegetables – A Maine clambake will almost always include aromatics like onions and garlic. Additional vegetables can include potatoes, corn, and leeks.
• Sausage – Sausage is a popular addition to a clam steaming pot. It instantly perfumes the broth and adds intense flavor. Pick a smoked sausage or even a Spanish chorizo. Ideally, you want sausage that is already cooked and not raw.
• Seasonings – Unlike a low country boil or southern seafood boil that relies on an abundance of spices, clam bakes tend to keep it simple with salt and pepper, even utilizing the natural salt of seawater if available. This allows the sweetness of the seafood to be the star.

Condiments to Serve with a New England Clambake

• The natural broth created by the clambake is the perfect accompaniment to a clambake. Make sure to have bowls and cups to ladle the broth into for serving.
• Another traditional accompaniment to a clam bake recipe is melted butter. You can use clarified butter, melted butter flavored with your favorite seafood seasoning, or a melted garlic butter.
• In addition to melted butter you can also serve cocktail sauce or tartar sauce with your clam bakes.

Necessary Equipment

There’s no need to dig a fire pit at the beach nowadays for a clam bake recipe. It can easily be achieved in your backyard on a firepit, grill, or smoker. In addition, most recipes will call for cooking your clam bake inside. It’s all about having the right tools.

• Large Stockpot – Whether your making your clambake outside or inside, the most important thing you’ll need is a large stockpot or a clam steaming pot. You want everything to be able to move around freely without overcrowding and also making sure it doesn’t boil over. If you’re boiling clams outside on a grill or firepit make sure that it’s grill/high heat safe.
• Sheet Pan – Another popular option for a lobster bake recipe is to create your boil on a sheet pan in the oven. Make sure that it is large and has a high rim to prevent anything from spilling over.
• Grill/Firepit – For those that want to make their New England clambake outside, a grill is the easiest option. Any type of grill will work from a classic charcoal grill to a pellet grill or gas grill. In addition, you can also cook your clam bake over the live fire of a fire pit.

Step-By-Step Recipe

Let’s turn to the queen of keeping it easy and cool herself, Ina Garten for a clam bake recipe anyone can pull off in their own kitchen. Break out the lobster crackers and roll out the newspaper and let’s dive in. How to cook clams is easy, especially in that classic recipe.

Tips on Layering Ingredients

• How long to cook steamers is about the same how long to cook clams, mussels, and shrimp. They will be layered more towards the top of your pot, the furthest away from the heat.
• The lobsters insulate the more delicate seafood preventing them from getting all of the steam at the top of the pot as it heats up. Place the lobsters at the very top. They will also take up the most room.

Flavor Optimization

A lobster bake and clam boil are all about the way the different ingredients harmoniously work together. The seafood used adds a natural sweetness as well as briny flavor to a clam steaming pot. There are other ingredients that can add even more depth of flavor as well as different layers.

• Different types of sausages will impart different flavors. Andouille and chorizo will give a spicier kick while Polish sausage or kielbasa will add a smoky element.
• Add citrus halves like lemons, oranges, or limes for a sunny note.
• Play with your spices. A sprinkle of Old Bay at the end will add a pop of flavor.
• Toss in fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, or thyme.
• If adding alcohol as part of your steaming liquid, like beer or wine, add it at the beginning to allow the alcohol to cook out and flavor to develop and brighten.

How to Handle Live Clams

For the best flavor when preparing your clam bake recipes, there are a few simple steps to follow when buying, storing, and preparing your live clams.

• Always purchase your clams the day you plan on cooking them. You want to add them to your clam boil recipe within 24 hours of purchase.
• When you bring your clams home place them in a colander fit into a bowl and cover them with a damp paper towel. Place the bowl in the bottom of the refrigerator, the coldest part, until ready to clean and use.
• There are multiple methods when it comes to cleaning clams including but not limited to adding them to salted water or throwing in a sprinkle of cornmeal. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best and also easiest. Give your clams a gentle scrub to remove any outside grit. Place them in a colander and put the colander into a larger bowl. Fill the bowl with cool water and allow your clams to soak for 10 minutes. Dump the water from the bowl and give the clams a rinse. Repeat the process another 1-2 times until there is no sand in the bowl. Your clams may open while they are soaking in the water. Give them a gentle tap to make sure they close. Discard any clams that remain open.

Health Benefits and Considerations

A clam bake recipe itself is usually protein packed and lower in calories because of the lean meat of clams, shrimp, and lobster. However, there are certain dietary considerations to keep in mind.

• The seafood common in a Maine clambake is low in fat, but higher in cholesterol. It’s a treat that should be enjoyed in mmoderation.
• While a clam bake recipe might be lower in calories and fat on it’s on, the sauces often served alongside it such as melted butter can quickly add up. Keep them more as an accent.
• Be mindful of anyone attending your clambake that might have a shellfish allergy and offer up an alternative entree that wasn’t prepared with the clambake.
  • If anyone attending the clambake suffers from shellfish allergies, it is important that the food served to them doesn’t come into contact with the New England clambake. You want to make sure to prevent any cross contamination.
• While the shellfish used is naturally carb free, other additions to the clambake such as potatoes and corn are high in carbs. If someone is living a low carb lifestyle either cut back on these additions or offer alternatives such as artichoke hearts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There is nothing worse than bad seafood to instantly ruin any party. From how to handle your live lobsters to how to tell if your clams are done, here are the top ticks and tricks.

• Always discard any clams that have cracked shells or remain open after purchasing. Clams may open their shells during the cleaning process. Give them a swift tap on the shell. If they close they’re good but if they remain open discard them.
• Always throw out any clams that don’t open after being cooked. These clams are not safe to eat.
• Make sure that you cook your live lobsters within 24 hours of purchase. You can keep them stored in the Styrofoam shipping container they come in or in the refrigerator. Also make sure that your lobsters are lively and smell of the ocean.
• Steam gently cooks the clams, keeping them tender and helping to prevent them from over cooking. If you decide on a different recipe for a clam bake that calls for cooking them over higher heat, make sure to add the clams in the later portion of the cooking process.
• If you overcooked your seafood, it will still be incredibly delicious, just have a slightly tougher texture. You can serve the clams with additional of the cooking broth or melted butter to compensate.
• If in doubt on whether or not your seafood is done, temp check! Shrimp should be 120 degrees and lobster should be between 135-140 degrees. The clams and mussels will open when they’re done.
• Don’t add any ingredients that will overwhelm the natural flavors of the seafood. It’s okay to serve bold sauces on the side, but let the seafood be the star of the steamer pot for clams.

Variations and Customizations

• For more of a southern flavor profile, add andouille sausage and use a Cajun or Creole spice blend. There are also seafood boil oils that will add instant flavor to your clam bake recipe.
• Replace the wine common in many New England clam bake recipes with beer for a different note.
• In California, it’s common to add fresh artichokes to a clambake. They can hold up to the steaming process so add them at the beginning.

Vegetarian Variation

If serving vegetarian guests, or guests with seafood allergies, they can still experience the fun of of the event of a clam and lobster bake. Omit all of the seafood as well as the pork based sausage. Replace the sausage with a plant based option and add additional ingredients that hold up well to the steaming process like broccoli, cauliflower, and mushrooms. You’ll also want to double up on the potatoes and corn and make sure to season the steaming liquid well. Don’t forget the crusty bread for dipping!

In addition, don’t forget the sides! Many classic sides to a clam bake are also vegetarian friendly. Coleslaw, mac and cheese, and fresh seasonal salads are all great options.

Pairing Suggestions

New England clam bakes are truly a social affair meant to be shared with many. It’s a full sensory experience from standing around and waiting for all of the gluttony of seafood to be spilled down the table to the sides that go along with it. Always pick complimentary flavors for both food and beverage keeping in mind you want the seafood to be center stage.

Beverages

• Mocktails are gaining in popularity as people become more health conscientious. Serve up drinks that are light, bright, effervescent, and citrusy.
• Many cocktails pair well with clambake recipes. From a refreshing gin and tonic to a bright Paloma or margarita, the options are endless.
• Pick wines that are sunny and bright. Pinot Grigio, a dry rose, Sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay are all great options.
• Bubbles make everything better. Champagne, cava, sparkling wine, and prosecco are all good options.
• Avoid heavy, dark beers and instead opt for lighter beers like a lager, pilsner, or even a sour beer.

Side Dishes

• Start off your clambake with a true taste of New England. Lobster bisque and New England clam chowder are great options.
• Coleslaw offers that crunchy texture we crave as well as freshness.
• Because this is a feast of food, serve a beautiful salad alongside. It can be something as simple as an arugula or green salad or something more elaborate like a grilled asparagus salad.
• Crusty bread is a must for sopping up all of that glorious seafood broth. Keep it simple and plain or use your favorite garlic bread recipe.

FAQ for Clam Bake Preparation