Clam casino is a baked clam dish that uses the entire clam in the half shell and is often cooked on a bed of rock salt. Bacon, garlic, butter, and Parmesan cheese are common ingredients, and it is usually served as an appetizer. Lollipop clams or cherries are typically used, and vegetables and seasonings vary.
Created in a Rhode Island casino in the late 20th century, clam casino is a baked clam dish that serves shellfish with a condiment similar to a stuffed clam concoction. Often confused with stuffed clams, clam casino cooks the entire clam in the half shell instead of cutting up the meat and combining it with the other ingredients. Also, this dish generally uses little or no bread crumbs. Clams casino is often cooked on a bed of rock salt and is normally served as an appetizer.
Any type of clam can be used for the clam casino, but lollipop clams or cherries are normally selected. These are the two smallest varieties of commercially sold clams other than the collars. The clams are shelled before use and can be completely removed from their shells so that the shells can be washed more thoroughly. The top shell is discarded and the bottom is kept. Each intact clam is placed on the bottom half of the shell and placed on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan, which is usually filled with coarse salt first.
Although the vegetables and other toppings vary considerably in seasoning, bacon, garlic, and butter are almost always featured. Fancier versions may use pancetta, a type of cured Italian bacon. Cheese is also usually added, usually Parmesan. Vegetable choices include celery, green or yellow onions, bell peppers, and shallots.
Seasonings such as oregano, paprika or basil may be included, and salt and pepper are often added to taste. Liquid flavorings, most commonly dry white wine or lemon juice, are also often found in the clam casino. Dried bread crumbs may be included in some versions, but are usually added in small amounts so they don’t overwhelm the other flavors in the dish. Extra virgin olive oil is sometimes included to finish the dish directly before it is cooked.
The filling for the clam casino is made by cooking bacon until crispy. The oil and butter are heated together in a pan, usually the same pan in which the bacon was cooked and the vegetables and spices are sauteed. If wine is included, it is added after a short cooking of the vegetables and a reduction of the mixture. Any other ingredients are added at that time, then the mixture can be spooned over the top of the arranged clams. Clams casino are normally cooked at a very high temperature for a short time.
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