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It takes hard work, long hours and dirty hands to host a true New England clambake. You can lessen the work and speed up the process, however. Use shortcuts when you can. Then you will be able to enjoy your clambake celebration just as much as your guests will.
How do you start a New England Clambake? First, you must travel to the beach and start digging two to three feet down. Next, line the pit with smooth rocks and light a fire. The rocks will heat to around 400 degrees. Then, cover the rocks with seaweed. Add potatoes, corn (with husks) and your clams. Use more seaweed to cover the food. Throw a tarp over the pit and let the food steam for around three hours.
If you don’t live near a beach and you don’t want to get all messy, your stovetop can be used for steaming. Instead of a pit, you’ll use a large steel pot. You’ll still need both the seaweed and several gallons of seawater to ensure your bake has that authentic beach flavor. Just line the bottom of the pot with rocks and then layer your foods just as you would in a pit. Boil the seawater and then let it steam for about 20 minutes.
Claims can be grilled without the seaweed and seawater. Potatoes can also be grilled, but you’ll probably want to boil them first because they take so much longer to cook than, say, clams or corn. Get the coals hot first in a charcoal grill. Then drop in your half-baked potatoes, corn, and clams.
Whatever cooking technique you settle on, remember to use soft-shelled mollusks in such categories as cherrystones or littlenecks. Do not prepare quahogs, which have hard shells. Best food hygiene calls for eating only those clams which pop open spontaneously as a result of cooking. You should not attempt to force open any unopened shells. Just throw them out.
Whether you opt for a day at the beach or plan to stay at your stove, you can add more to your clambake to make it memorable. Throw in a live lobster or two for a special treat, or cook up some sausage for a more hearty meal. What ever you add, be sure to enjoy the unique traditions of a New England clambake by sharing it with friends and family.
A few shortcuts will help you enjoy your clambake celebration as much as your guests. When you go to a real New England clambake be prepared to spend the day on the beach. You will need to prepare a 2-3 foot deep fire pit with rocks. A wood fire works best. When the rocks are about 400 degrees start lining the rocks with potatoes, seaweed, and delicious clams. The last step is to cover up the clambake with a tarp and wait for about 3 hours. Throw in a live lobster or two to make a special treat, or perhaps a more hearty meal by throwing in some sausage.
- Matthew Lewis