The “R” in August.
When I was a kid, my parents — both from New England — always said never to buy or eat seafood in a month without an “R,” unless you could see, hear, or smell the ocean. That’s not happening in the Sonoran Desert, ever. However, in these modern times, all of the summer months do have an “R” — in Refrigeration. Through the miracle of refrigeration, those of us inland can now have fresh seafood even in summer.
Like these Grilled Clams with Thyme Butter. This is great summer fare and what could be a better pairing than a bottle of “Summer in a Bottle”? This Wölffer Estate rosé wine is now being produced in Provence in addition to Long Island where it has been made since 1992. Check out the Provence WineZine to read more.
~ David
Grilled Clams with Thyme Butter
To print this recipe, please click the small printer icon below.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- 3 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped
- finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon white wine
- 1/4 teaspoon piment d’Espelette
- large pinch sea salt
- 2 1/2 dozen clams, scrubbed
- additional chives and thyme sprigs, for serving
Instructions
- Mix together all the ingredients except clams and garnishes. Keep warm.
- Preheat grill to high. Carefully put clams on the grill. Close the cover and cook for 4 minutes. Remove clams that have opened and transfer them to a serving platter. Continue grilling with cover closed, until all clams have opened, checking every 30 seconds or so, adding them to the platter. If after 7 minutes, some clams haven’t opened, discard them.
- Place clams on a platter or plates, and spoon thyme butter evenly over the opened clams. Garnished with chives and thyme sprigs, and serve with slices of toasted French bread for sopping up the juices.
- Serves 4 as a first course.
© 2024 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Ngeun
August 3, 2024 at 6:10 amWow! Looks gorgeous, David. Yum!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:44 amThanks, Ngeun!
Marie Lopez
August 3, 2024 at 5:50 pmJust had calamari… not as good as claims….but….
M
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 11:17 amOh, but I love calamari, too. Yum!
Mad Dog
August 3, 2024 at 6:33 amThose look delicious, especially with piment d’Espelette!
The R in the month rule relates to the fact that shellfish spawn in the summer which can make them taste bad and the fact that bacteria and red tide algae levels in the water rise, which can be absorbed and turn the shellfish toxic. However, these days, wild harvests are closely monitored for safety and farmed shellfish are maintained in a secure environment – they are often sterile so no spawning.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:45 amThanks, Mad Dog. The slight pique of the Piment d’Espelette is really nice — and adds a nice flavor, too. Thanks for the info on the R months!
Marie Lopez
August 3, 2024 at 6:47 amWhile I was recently visiting Maine I had the pleasure of enjoying “Steamers”….. 6 “bowls” in my 6 day trip. Love em. I’ve had grilled clams almost every summer of my youth…. This is exactly how you do it! Thank you for the memories of my “clam digging” beach days and “bonfire
cookout” nights on some of the most beautiful New England beaches in Maine.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:48 amI’m so glad this brought back good memories, Marie! When I was writing it, Mark and I reminisced about steamers in Maine — getting them out of the shell, slipping off the foot covering, then bathing them in brine to get rid of the grit before dipping them in butter. IYKYK! Thanks for your comment— hope all is well.
Jeff the Chef
August 3, 2024 at 6:54 amNo surprise that your clams are as gorgeously plated as I’m sure they are delicious.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:49 amThe platter — which is really long — was a gift from two good friends. It was fun creating the still life for this shoot. And, yes, the clams were so good!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
August 3, 2024 at 7:48 amNow that is a real New England summer meal…clams and corn. Yum.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:50 amIt does take you back, doesn’t it Karen?
Barb
August 3, 2024 at 8:10 amWhat a perfect summer meal and beverage! And, beautifully plated, as always! I would eat this in any month, regardless of the lack of an R.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 8:52 amThanks, Barb — I had so much fun with the plating and photo — clams are pretty gray… but I found ways to add color! And, as far as I’m concerned l all months have an R. It might just be invisible and silent.
Mimi Rippee
August 3, 2024 at 8:57 amBeautiful photos! I’ve never cooked clams or mussels, and probably never will. They’re something that I can’t imagine ordering frozen. Damn.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 11:08 amThanks — glad you like the photos! I have had good luck with frozen mussels but never clams. You can have them all shipped on ice as you do for meats and poultry, I suppose.
angiesrecipes
August 3, 2024 at 10:51 amHaven’t had clams in ages. They look so FRESH, light yer so flavourful.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2024 at 11:09 amThanks, Angie — it was a nice light dinner for us!
sherry
August 3, 2024 at 2:32 pmI think it was Marcella Hazan who said that you don’t have to discard unopened clams or oysters. She said if they look and smell okay, you can eat ’em! But who knows… I like clams and the thyme butter sounds tasty!
cheers
sherry
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 11:11 amThanks, Sherry! Discarding shellfish that doesn’t open is pretty standard here. It signifies that it was dead before cooking, thus probably tainted. I’ll err on the safe side here! Happily, all mine opened just fine!
FEL!X
August 3, 2024 at 6:42 pmLooks delicious – I never grilled clams, will give them a try.
I also know the explanation from Mad Dog above about red tide algae.
Here in Thailand we can get clams fresh from the market, mostly these attractive looking «carpet shells» (Venerupis corrugata).
Best regards, Felix
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 11:13 amIt’s great information to know, Felix! I love the carpet shells — they are quite beautiful, and they are much meatier than the littlenecks I used. I hope you like the recipe! Best, David
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
August 4, 2024 at 5:15 amI’m with you, David! I enjoy clams year round. And this sounds like a marvelous way to enjoy them. Hope you’re keeping cool…
PS: Sorry for the radio silence lately. I’ve been traveling and then a bit under the weather. Now just catching up on blogs I follow.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 11:14 amI hope you are feeling better — sorry to hear you have been under the weather. (I’m now wondering what that actually means! 🤣)
It’s a nice relaxed appetizer/tapa to share with friends and easily doubled for a crowd!
Ronit
August 4, 2024 at 7:26 amThis dish, with the corn on the side, definitely brings back New England tasty memories. The thyme must add such nice fresh aroma to the grilled clams.
This is indeed “summer on a plate” dish, and pairing it with rosé wine makes it even more so. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 11:15 amThanks, Ronit — it definitely felt like summer when we were having both the clams and the wine!
Gerlinde de Broekert
August 4, 2024 at 3:35 pmI like clams and mussels and cook them often. Thanks for this wonderful recipe David.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 9:21 pmThanks. I am pretty partial to all seafood, Gerlinde — it’s so good!
David Gomberg
August 4, 2024 at 5:11 pmDavid, this was a hit! I opted for Cape Cod Bay Middlenecks because, more clam!, yet still sweet. I hadn’t grilled them before but that will be the default now. The shell-full of broth in each adds to the to the sauce and wow. Grilled corn, Grilled bread, Wine, Wonderful! We had a side of linguini as well. Cheers (click)
David
Cocoa & Lavender
August 4, 2024 at 9:23 pmThanks, David —- I’m so glad you enjoyed them. I wish I could get clams like that here on Tucson! The grilling is really nice — the juices after mixed with the butter are insane. Sounds like a perfect meal.
Raymund
August 8, 2024 at 4:12 pmThats a great intro! I suddenly recited all of the months and see which of them have R 🤣.
Anyways this Clams recipe sounds fantastic and perfect for summer, I am sure I will like this!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 10, 2024 at 1:02 pmI think it’s fun that we both did clams this past week!
Inger
August 9, 2024 at 10:15 pmI was asking one of our fishmongers about the “R” month rule and he said farming’s a big player in that now too. But he said they’re not motivated to figure it all out, so no oysters (in my case) for me until late fall! Glad you got yours though–they look yummy!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 10, 2024 at 12:57 pmYes, I imagine farming makes a huge difference. We also have great oyster beds just south and west of here!
Pauline McNee
August 11, 2024 at 7:23 pmWe tend to eat mussels more so than clams here, I think clams are more readily available in the southern states. I would happily serve the mussels with this delicious sauce. We had small clams in Lisbon, which my hubby just loved, he couldn’t get enough of them. Well done on being so adventurous David.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 12, 2024 at 11:16 amFunny — I prefer mussels to clams. They are so flavorful and meaty, yet not tough. I had a friend who was recently in Spain and had a platter of clams just like this!
2pots2cook
August 16, 2024 at 4:55 amSo inviting! Thank God is Arugust so we can enjoy them !
Cocoa & Lavender
August 16, 2024 at 7:56 amAgreed!
Valentina
August 16, 2024 at 6:13 pmBeautiful presentation, David. Love the simple, bright fresh flavors you’ve added to the clams. The corn is such a great paring (as is the wine). 😉 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
August 17, 2024 at 9:21 amThanks, Valentina — sometimes when the food is gray/beige, you need to work harder to make it all look pretty!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
August 19, 2024 at 4:46 pmI’ve never grilled clams (not any other seafood, perhaps only shrimp), and I must admit they look amazing! And this thyme butter? Perfection!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 22, 2024 at 3:55 pmI’ve actually grilled oysters a lot, and of course shrimp and scallops. I have grilled lobster, too, but prefer it steamed. Clams are definitely good this way!