Roasted Clams with Herb Jam and Chorizo Butter

Method

“I love these roasted clams on a cold winter’s night, especially with deliciously crusty bread for the extra chorizo butter,” says Erin Zircher. Oysters may be substituted for the clams.

• Chorizo Butter:
• 1 cup dry cured Spanish chorizo, casings removed and chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Dash ground cinnamon
• Crushed red pepper flakes to taste
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• Herb Jam:
• 3 cups spinach, kale, or chard
• 1 cup cilantro leaves and stems
• 1 cups flat-leaf parsley leaves, stems removed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
• Salt as needed
• Roasted Clams:
• 12 to 18 cherrystone or littleneck clams, scrubbed clean and shucked
• Crusty bread, such as ciabatta, sliced into 1/2-inch slices

Make the chorizo butter: pulse the chorizo in a food processor until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook until slightly crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for another 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in the paprika, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Combine the chorizo with the room-temperature butter. Set aside.

Make the herb jam: set up a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. Add the greens, cilantro, and parsley; steam until limp and tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool completely, and finely chop. Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until translucent, about 1 minute. Add the steamed greens and herbs; sauté gently to evaporate the excess moisture and meld the flavors, about 1 minute. Season with salt, remove from the heat, and let cool completely.

Make the roasted clams: preheat the oven to 450º F. Place the opened clams in a roasting pan or on a sheet tray, using the bread slices to steady them. Top each clam with a teaspoon of herb jam and as much chorizo butter as desired. Roast until the butter is bubbling and the ingredients are warmed all of the way through, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Serve with the toasted bread on the side.

Yield

4 to 6 servings