Fried Ipswich Whole Belly Clams With Tartar Sauce

Serves: 3

Lacy Volkman

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

54

Spice

61

Sweetness

53

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

6 large

Egg

2 tbsps

Cornmeal

Directions:

1

Line a baking sheet with wax paper

2

Set up for what we call "standard breading procedure": Put the flour in a shallow bowl; put the eggs in a second shallow bowl and beat them with a fork; put the cracker meal, bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Old Bay in a third shallow bowl and whisk to combine

3

Spread the clams out on several layers of paper towels and blot them as dry as possible

4

Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 360°F

5

Toss the clams in the flour and shake off any excess

6

Dip the clams into the egg, coating them completely

7

Lift them out by the handful and let any excess egg drip off, then put the clams into the breading mixture and toss to coat them completely

8

Keep one hand dry and use the other hand for wet

9

Transfer to the baking sheet

10

If the breading begins to clump, put it through a coarse sieve

11

Fry the clams in small batches—crowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil and the clams will come out greasy—until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute

12

Drain on paper towels

13

Pile the clams on 4 dinner plates and serve with individual bowls of tartar sauce—and some fries

14

Line a baking sheet with wax paper

15

Set up for what we call "standard breading procedure": Put the flour in a shallow bowl; put the eggs in a second shallow bowl and beat them with a fork; put the cracker meal, bread crumbs, cornmeal, and Old Bay in a third shallow bowl and whisk to combine

16

Spread the clams out on several layers of paper towels and blot them as dry as possible

17

Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 360°F

18

Toss the clams in the flour and shake off any excess

19

Dip the clams into the egg, coating them completely

20

Lift them out by the handful and let any excess egg drip off, then put the clams into the breading mixture and toss to coat them completely

21

Keep one hand dry and use the other hand for wet

22

Transfer to the baking sheet

23

If the breading begins to clump, put it through a coarse sieve

24

Fry the clams in small batches—crowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil and the clams will come out greasy—until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute

25

Drain on paper towels

26

Pile the clams on 4 dinner plates and serve with individual bowls of tartar sauce—and some fries