Nothing says "Italiano" like oregano! Here's another of "Cuzzy Boy" Mike's clam recipe favorites...it's a recipe "you can't refuse"!!
New Jersey is truly a remarkable state. It's so diverse in natural resources. One renewable and abundant resource is our shellfish. What kind of shellfish? We have clams (hard and soft), mussels, oysters, scallops, (bay and sea), welk's (conch-like), crabs (hard and soft). All are available, with the appropriate license and a short drive from anywhere in New Jersey.
Some can be eaten raw. Others must be cooked.
The one rule you'll need to remember about shellfish is "MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALIVE". Clams, oysters and mussels that are open and don't close when touched, crabs that are limp and don't move, or any fish that has an unpleasant or ammonia smell MUST BE DISCARDED! There are NO exceptions to this rule. When in doubt, throw it out.
by Mike "Cuzzy Boy" Melchionne
CLAMS OREGANO
2 dozen Top Neck or Cherrystone (Chef's Choice) freshly caught clams
2 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Garlic, cloved or diced in jar
Dried oregano
Dried thyme
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
1) Wash all mud and sand off of clams. Then open clams, being careful not to get pieces of shell on the clam meat.
2) Space evenly in a baking pan covered with aluminum foil. (Clams will leak juices!)
3)
Methodically, from clam to clam, add:
A thin slice of garlic or a little diced garlic to each clam.
A thin slice of butter to each clam.
4)
With a tablespoon, light sprinkle bread crumbs over each clam until lightly covered.
5) Sprinkle each clam with salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, parmigiano cheese to taste.
6)
Drizzle (to taste) olive oil over each clam.
7) The clams may be covered and frozen at this stage to be cooked another day, however, they are best if cooked fresh.
8)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
9) Bake until butter melts and bubbles, or clam starts to brown (about 35 minutes
OR you can stick in broiler immediately BUT THEY MUST BE WATCHED CLOSELY!)
10)
Clams are done when bread crumbs are brown. Do not overcook or clams will be tough!
Divertiti !
