Only in Essex Steamer Clam Cakes with Traditional New England Tartar Sauce

Recipe courtesy Laurie Lufkin, Essex MA

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Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 4 Reviews
Total Time:
50 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
30 min
Yield:
18 small clam cakes
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

Clams:

  • 1 large Vidalia onion
  • 1 can beer (Budweiser or the like is fine)
  • Olive oil
  • 6 pounds steamer clams

Traditional Tartar Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup dill pickles, diced
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • 2 cups canola oil or more, according to manufacturer's instructions on deep-fryer
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 1/2 cups clam broth
  • Lemon wedges, if desired

Directions

For the Clams: Over medium heat in a large pan, pour 3 tablespoons olive oil. Chop onion into large chunks and saute in oil until lightly cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the beer and the clams. Cover and cook until all of the clams are opened, about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how many you have in the pan.

Remove pan from heat, uncover and allow to cool to the touch before shucking.

Push the clams to the side so that there is broth visible to rinse the clams in after shucking. Remove clams from shell 1 at a time and pull off membrane that covers the neck and discard. Rinse shucked clams in broth and set aside. When all clams are shucked, drain the broth out of them by giving them a slight squeeze over the pan of broth. Chop roughly and set aside.

For the tartar sauce: Mix all ingredients in a small bowl to serve with clam cakes. Refrigerate until serving.

For the clam cakes: In a deep-fryer or on the stove top in a deep skillet, preheat oil to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Fold in eggs, evaporated milk and clam broth until thoroughly mixed. Stir in clams and mix well.

Dip a spoon into the heated oil, then take a 2 tablespoon sized scoop of the fritter mixture and carefully drop into oil. Turn the cake over when the first side is browned. Fritters should be cooked through and browned in 4 to 5 minutes. Remove with a skimmer and drain on brown paper bag. Reseason with additional salt, if desired. Serve with the tartar sauce and enjoy! If desired, serve on small plates with wedges of lemon.

A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 4 reviews

  • on October 24, 2010

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    Thank you to both of you for the great review--this was a take on my Mimi's recipe and I am honored that you both tried it and enjoyed it so much. The clams are soft shelled steamer clams and the best steamers in the world come from Essex/Ipswich Bay! Laurie

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  • on July 11, 2010

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    I had no idea there was this much to making an Essex clam cake. I miss them, way out here on the West Coast (1 hr. from S.F. PS: I'm from West Lynn MA.

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  • on March 23, 2010

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    Being from the area, I am very familiar with Ipswich and Essex clams. Who doesn't love Woodmans? And spending my teen years on Cape Cod, I am familiar with fresh seafood and clam fritters. While this is a good fritter recipe, it is not the very best. But I would make this recipe again, until I stumble across a better one.

    I took a que from judge Michael on the show and cut the necks into smaller pieces before mixing the clams into the fritter batter. I wanted to make sure the clam necks weren't too rubbery. If you are not close enough to the Essex area to get these clams, regular steamer clams will do just fine. I imagine 99% of the cooks using this recipe will not use Essex clams.

    I cut the recipe exactly in half. For some reason, my wife wanted more clams and less batter, but this was the first time she ever had any type of fritter. I will adjust accordingly for her.

    The tartar sauce recipe was basic and foundational. I used the tiny dill spears, along with fresh hand-cut horseradish, and the flavor was wonderful. Basic and simple yet flavorful.

    Congrats to the woman who supplied this recipe. I wish you continued cooking success.

    people found this review Helpful.
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