• Home
  • Our Story
  • Contact
MyGourmetConnection

MyGourmetConnection

Recipes for creative cooks

  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Quick & Easy
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Quick & Easy
  • Our Story
  • Contact

Steamer Clams, New England Style

by Lynne Webb on June 25, 2010 (Updated August 29, 2021) // 8 Comments

Appetizers » Steamer Clams, New England Style

Steamer Clams, New England Style

by Lynne Webb on June 25, 2010 (Updated August 29, 2021) // 8 Comments

Steamer clams, aka soft-shell clams, are sweet, tender and slightly briny and make a delicious appetizer simply served with a little melted butter and fresh lemon.
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Bowl of steamer clams with lemon wedge

Steamers (also known as soft-shell Atlantic clams), are easily identified by the siphon that protrudes from one side of the shell. The siphon has also given them the nickname of “long-necks.”

Their shells are not actually soft, just a good deal thinner than hard-shelled varieties like quahogs, littlenecks, and cherrystones. We like them cooked and served in the traditional New England style. They’re very easy to prepare and make a wonderful prelude to a fresh seafood dinner.

Tips for Preparing Steamer Clams:

Because soft-shell clams don’t close tightly like their hard-shell cousins, they might contain a little sand. To get them clean before cooking, place them in a large bowl and cover with salted water – 1 tablespoon sea salt (2-3/4 teaspoons table salt) per quart of water, thoroughly dissolved.

A two to three-hour soak should be adequate. Drain and rinse lightly under cold water.

Once the clams are cooked, handle them gently – they can fall out of the shells rather easily.

More Clam Recipes:

  • Linguine with Red Clam Sauce
  • Clams Casino
Steamer Clams, New England Style

Steamer Clams, New England Style

4 from 7 votes
  |  Leave a Review
Steamer clams, aka soft-shell clams, are sweet, tender and slightly briny and make a delicious appetizer simply served with a little melted butter and fresh lemon.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time : 15 mins
Total Time : 20 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!

Ingredients 

  • 4 lbs steamer clams
  • 1/4 lb unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon

Instructions 

  • Soak the clams according to the directions listed in the tips below
  • Add about 1-inch of water to the bottom of a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a simmer, then add the clams. Cover the pot and steam until all of the shells have opened wide, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • While the clams are cooking, melt the butter and add the juice from half the lemon. Pour the butter into individual serving dishes and set aside. Cut the remaining half of the lemon into 4 wedges for serving.
  • Once all the clams have opened fully, carefully scoop them into a bowl. Pour the broth into individual serving dishes for dipping.
  • Note: You may want to strain the broth through cheesecloth if you see any sand accumulated in the bottom.
  • To eat, remove the clam from the shell and strip the skin off the neck. Dip it first in the broth, then in the butter.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Steamer Clams, New England Style
Amount per Serving
Calories
881
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
11
g
Cholesterol
 
365
mg
122
%
Sodium
 
5456
mg
237
%
Carbohydrates
 
25
g
8
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
116
g
232
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.

Author: Lynne Webb | 

Course: Appetizers
 | 
Cuisine: American

Polynesian-Style Glazed Short Ribs PREVIOUS
Polynesian-Style Glazed Short Ribs
Two Tomato Chutney
Two Tomato Chutney NEXT

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this Recipe:




Comments

  1. glenn schwar says

    May 31, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    Always used distilled water and a little cornmeal to get them ready. I tried this and all the steamers died within 1/2 hour

    Reply
    • Lynne Webb says

      June 11, 2021 at 5:26 pm

      Hi Glenn,
      Not sure what the problem would have been but I’m sorry you had a bad experience. We’ve been making steamers this way for 40 years and never had a problem.

      Reply
  2. Juliana Tibbet says

    September 26, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    Hello from eastern Canada!  Ive been digging my own soft shelled clams for 40 years …..mostly cooking  over an open campfire.  Ive read with interest that you put water in the bottom of a pot them add the clams.  Its been my experience that you need no water added the clams will produce there own and use this water to dippiest the prepared clam in before dipping in butter and lemon.  Going clamming (I dig by hand) to Kouchibequac National Park on Monday…..yum

    Reply
  3. WP Sullivan says

    August 22, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    We add about 2/3 cup of white wine at the same time we dump the clams into the boiling salted water. Our ol’ skool friends substitute beer for the wine 2/3 cup, then drink the rest.

    Reply
    • Lynne Webb says

      August 23, 2019 at 1:27 pm

      Both those ideas sound good! We’ll have to give them a try some time.

      Reply
  4. KAREN says

    July 23, 2018 at 7:56 pm

    4 stars
    Great recipe ~my family loves steamers and if you follow the steps outlined -you will get great results!

    Reply
    • Lynne Webb says

      July 27, 2018 at 9:16 pm

      Hi Karen,
      We made steamers all the time when we lived in Rhode Island. Now, living in Florida, they are a rare treat. Glad you’re a fan!

      Reply
  5. Benjamin Frear says

    June 28, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Looks great – nice recipe! Definitely re-tweeting this!

    Reply

Hi there! We’re Lynne & Erika, seasoned home cooks and recipe creators here at My Gourmet Connection. Our aim is to bring variety and new flavors to your everyday meals and we’ve got hundreds of recipes for you to explore. Welcome!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

to start making
tastier meals?

Sign up to receive our free ebook and learn five easy ways to level up the flavor of your everyday meals.

Everyday meals, unique flavors

Serving platter with garlic crusted boneless pork roast, partially carved and garnished with fresh herbs.

Garlic Herb Crusted Boneless Pork Roast

Greek Egg and Lemon Soup

Greek Egg and Lemon Soup (Avgolemono Soup)

A bowl of Instant Pot Italian chicken soup sprinkled with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Instant Pot Italian Chicken Soup

Sliced apple cider brined turkey breast on a serving platter.

Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast

Quick & Easy Recipes

Oven-Fried Fish with Lemon-Basil Butter

Oven-Fried Barramundi with Lemon Basil Butter

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Flatbread

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Flatbread

Caprese Pasta

Our Best Crab Cake Recipe

More Easy Recipes

Stay Inspired!

Sign up to get our recipes via email.

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

© 2023 MyGourmetConnection

Site Credits