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Baked clams in tomato sauce in a white serving bowl.

Clams with Tomatoes, Basil + Blue Cheese

This easy recipe for Clams with Tomatoes, Basil + Blue Cheese makes a wonderful appetizer, but can double as an entree served with crusty bread and a salad. 
5 from 3 votes
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Course: seafood
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: appetizer, basil, blue cheese, clams, dinner, easy, Italian, littlenecks, quick, tomatoes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 275kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • ½ cup dry white wine I used sauvignon blanc
  • 1 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 50 littleneck clams soaked and scrubbed clean of any sand
  • salt to taste, only if needed*
  • freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter cold, cut into pieces
  • 6 ounces creamy blue cheese such as gorgonzola dolce
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves torn
  • crusty bread for dipping

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute the garlic for about one minute, then add the white wine and cook until reduced by half, about one or two minutes. Add the tomatoes and use a wooden spoon to break them up into large pieces, then simmer, uncovered, for about five minutes.
  • Add the clams and toss to coat, then turn the heat to high, cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove the lid and use a pair of tongs to remove any clams that have opened up into a serving bowl. Continue placing open clams in the bowl until they've all opened up. If there are any clams that won't open, cover and wait a few minutes, and if they're still being stubborn, discard them.
  • Stir the butter into the sauce one piece at a time, then crumble in the blue cheese and stir. Some of the cheese will melt into the sauce, but be sure there are plenty of chunks that still remain. Stir in half of the basil, then pour over the clams. Top with the remaining fresh basil and serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 446mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 978IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 255mg | Iron: 2mg