Clams and Chorizo Recipe - Steamed Clams with Chorizo | Hank Shaw (2024)

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4.75 from 4 votes

By Hank Shaw

August 15, 2014 | Updated July 11, 2022

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There is nothing more Iberian — meaning Spanish, Basque or Portuguese — than the combination of shellfish and pork, and that usually means clams and chorizo.

Clams and Chorizo Recipe - Steamed Clams with Chorizo | Hank Shaw (2)

It’s a magical pairing, unless you are Jewish, in which case it’s a double whammy of “nope, can’t eat that.” Indeed, some food historians think this combination originated with the Spanish Inquisition, as a way of testing Jews who had supposedly converted to Catholicism. Yikes…

Anyway, it’s a damn good plate of food, and fun to eat. The double hit of savory umami from the clams and chorizo, tartness from lemon juice, saltiness from both the broth and the sausage makes this dish a classic for a reason.

I foraged my own clams at an Undisclosed Location on California’s North Coast, and made the Spanish chorizo myself, kinda-sortafollowing the recipe from Charcutería: The Soul of Spain. You can of course buy your clams and your chorizo. Much easier.

If you do buy your clams, buy them at a place that sells a lot of clams. In most cases this is not your grocery store. Clams can live several days out of water, but they will die eventually. Gaping clams are not necessarily dead, either, but gaping clams that don’t respond when you tap them probably are.

Clams and Chorizo Recipe - Steamed Clams with Chorizo | Hank Shaw (3)

Turnover is key. When I am forced to buy clams for cooking events I do, I get the fishmonger all pissed off by requiring him to set out the clams so I can touch them. I then tap each one that’s gaping, and if they respond I take them. And yes, I usually apologize to the person in line behind me.

If you collect your own clams, be sure to purge the sand out of them first. I wrote a tutorial on how to get sand out of clams, so you can follow that.

As for the chorizo, specialty stores will have Spanish chorizo, which is a hard salami, but I have also done this with fresh chorizo from a Mexican market. Different, but both work.

My final piece of advice to get the most out of this recipe is to do your best to get real Spanish pimentón, the smoked paprika they use a lot, and to get the best loaf of bread you can find.

And please don’t slice your bread all dainty-like: Tear it into pieces as you eat, using it as a “spoon” to get yummy things onto your fork and to soak up the fantastic broth. Eating a bowl of clams and chorizo should be primal, and the torn bread just seems more natural.

4.75 from 4 votes

Spanish Clams and Chorizo

I use Western littleneck clams for this recipe because that's what I can forage for here in NorCal. You could use any small hard-shell clam, and Manila or Eastern littlenecks are just as good or even better than then Western clams I use.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Spanish

Servings: 4 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 25 to 50 small hard-shell clams
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced thin
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced thin
  • 1 to 3 dried, hot chiles, broken up
  • 1/2 pound dry Spanish chorizo, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups white wine
  • A pinch of saffron (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika
  • Juice of a lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
  • Black pepper

Instructions

  • Lay the clams in a wide pan, like a big frying pan, in one layer; you may need to do this batches. Pour 1 cup of white wine in the pan and turn the heat to high. Cover the pan and steam the clams open. Keep an eye on the pan and check every minute or two and remove each clam as soon as it pops open. Move the opened clams to a bowl. Keep doing this, adding and removing clams, until they are all opened. Tap on the shells of those clams that don't seem to want to open, and sometimes they'll pop. If they stay resolutely closed, toss them.

  • Your choice here: I remove all but a few of the clams from their shells because it's easier to eat this way; I leave a few clams in the shells for garnish. Some people just like to pick through the whole shebang, and if you're one of those, go for it.

  • OPTIONAL: Strain the clam juice through a paper towel to remove grit. You can use this for the finished dish.

  • Wipe out the pan you cooked the clams in and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When it's hot, sauté the onions until they are soft and the edges have browned a bit. Add the chiles, garlic and chorizo and cook for another minute or two.

  • Crumble the saffron over the pan and sprinkle the paprika over everything. Add the remaining white wine, the clams and enough of the strained clam juice (or water) to halfway cover everything. Boil this furiously for about 90 seconds. Turn off the heat, add the lemon juice, chopped herbs and black pepper. Serve at once with a big loaf of crusty bread.

Notes

I like to eat this with good bread and a dry rose or a very light red, like a Spanish Garnacha, California Gamay or French Beaujolais. Hard cider is another good choice here, as would a full-flavored white wine like a Portuguese Verdelho.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 781IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Appetizers and Snacks, Fish, Recipe, Spanish

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Clams and Chorizo Recipe - Steamed Clams with Chorizo | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

What is chorizo seasoning made of? ›

Chorizo seasonings are made from a variety of ingredients used most often in hispanic and latin foods. The flavor of chorizo comes primarily from a mix of ground chiles and ground herbs. Like chili pepper, garlic, paprika, oregano, and salt. Many recipes include coriander and vinegar as well.

How to make chorizo crispy? ›

If you want thin, crispy pieces of meat, try slicing your chorizo into rounds and sauteing them on the stovetop. Cut your large chorizo link into about half-inch-thick slices, then heat them in a skillet until the rounds are firm.

How to cook chorizo ring? ›

How to cook crispy chorizo sausage
  1. Place the chorizo on a cutting board.
  2. Slice the chorizo diagonally, 5mm thick.
  3. Heat a frying pan on a medium heat.
  4. Cook for 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chorizo is crisp on the outside.
  5. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towel.

How long does it take to cook chorizo? ›

In a medium-sized skillet, slowly cook chorizo for 10 minutes, breaking it apart until fully cooked (about 10 minutes). Drain off excess fat if necessary.

What makes chorizo taste so good? ›

It's Spicy

Mexican chorizo is typically seasoned with vinegar and chile peppers, while Spanish chorizo is made with garlic and pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika, either sweet or hot), which gives it its deep brick-red color and smoky flavor.

What makes chorizo taste like chorizo? ›

Mexican Chorizo

It's traditionally made with finely ground pork, although many other types of meats, like offal and plant-based alternatives, are also used these days. Mexican chorizo features a bit of paprika, but most of the color and flavor come from local chiles, like pasilla.

Why is my chorizo so mushy after cooking? ›

The high-fat percentage makes chorizos have a soft and mushy texture before cooking it. After leaving it on heat and letting it cook, the meat will firm up. There are other types of chorizo that you can enjoy without cooking.

What can I add to chorizo? ›

I love pairing chorizo with clams, bell peppers and, surprisingly, pears, which balance out the smoky heat of the chorizo with a fresh, sweet flavor. All of these types can be used interchangeably, but don't forget to cook the fresh Mexican variety before eating!

How do you know when chorizo is done? ›

The USDA recommends cooking ground meats, including chorizo, to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) [1]. Insert the food thermometer into the thickest part of the chorizo to ensure it has reached the recommended temperature.

What is the correct way to cook chorizo? ›

Slice and Cook: Place a pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo to the pan and cook, turning occasionally for about 10-12 minutes until it's cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long to cook chorizo on stove? ›

Preheat a nonstick skillet for 2 minutes over medium heat. Cook Chorizo for 3 to 5 minutes, crumbling with a spoon while cooking. Mix in onion and garlic. Continue to cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Do you drain chorizo after cooking? ›

Stir chorizo and break it down with your wooden spoon. You can add any additional ingredients you want at this stage such as onions, garlic, or even an egg. 5. Cook until your chorizo starts brown and drain the fat.

Is chorizo already precooked? ›

Chorizo is a popular pork sausage often accompanying a hearty breakfast meal. There are two kinds of pork chorizo: Mexican and Spanish. Mexican chorizo is generally packaged raw and must be cooked before you eat it. Spanish chorizo is made safe to eat through a curing process, so you don't need to cook it.

What are the three ingredients in Spanish chorizo? ›

The traditional character of the Spanish chorizo

There are as many recipes as there are chorizos, but what they all have in common are the main ingredients: pork meat and bacon, paprika, garlic, and salt.

What makes chorizo different from sausage? ›

Chorizo is a type of sausage, made with chopped or minced meat, which is then stuffed in animal intestine. But make no mistake - chorizos are no ordinary sausages. They are very spicy, with a rather unmistakable taste.

Is chorizo made from pork intestines? ›

Chorizo is made with intestines, because it's a sausage and sausage is packed into pork casings, which are made from intestine. But chorizo is mostly comprised of highly seasoned ground pork. Whether it's fresh or dried and the particular recipe vary by chorizo-making tradition.

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