Spicy Chorizo Clams

These spicy chorizo clams make a perfect weeknight meal. The clams are steamed in white wine with delicious chorizo and garlic. Serve with some freshly toasted bread or over a bowl of pasta and you have a meal ready in less than 30 minutes.

Clams are a quick and easy meal. They are perfect for date nights or just during the week when you need a quick meal when you are on the go. The chorizo and the red pepper flakes add a nice little kick, and the white wine broth makes the perfect sauce for dipping bread.  One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can place the clams over some pasta to make a more robust meal.

In this recipe

The best part of this recipe is that it is simple. There aren’t many steps, and the ingredient list is easy to get ahold of.

Clams: littleneck clams are my go-to for this recipe. They are small and sweet clams and the most common in stores.

Chorizo: a Spanish sausage, you will want the link sausage and not the ground version.

White wine: choose a dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Pinot Grigio that you want to drink by itself.

Ingredients for chorizo clams on a wooden cutting board
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How to clean clams

This is probably the most important step in this recipe because it will help get rid of the sand in the clams. You will want to place the clams in a bowl of cold water. Pour out the cloudy water. Repeat until the water is clear. Allow the clams to sit in the cold water for at least 15 minutes but up to an hour, if you have the time, to help force the clams to expel any sand within them. This will help prevent sand from ending up in your broth.

Clams in a bowl of water
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Cooking chorizo in a casserole dish
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Chorizo and shallots cooking in a casserole dish
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Cooked chorizo with garlic and red pepper flakes in a casserole dish
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Choosing a white wine with clams

One thing you will want to pay attention to is the white wine you choose when cooking with seafood. There are a few options for dry white wines. Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chenin Blanc are all great examples. I tend to lean towards Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Pinot Grigio: this is a wine that has some fruit flavors that pair well with the clams and chorizo.

Riesling: this one is a great pairing with spicy food as the acid helps cleanse the palate and the aromatics in the wine pair well with the red pepper and chorizo.

Sauvignon Blanc: this is another wine that works well with seafood and the high acidity cuts through the fat of the seafood and chorizo and cleanses the palate like Riesling does.

Clams placed in a casserole dish
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Cooked clams in a casserole dish
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How to make this recipe in 30 minutes

The way I found to get this recipe done in 30 minutes is to start with cleaning the clams. You want to submerge the clams in cold water. If you have a brush or towel gently scrub each clam for a couple of seconds. Pour out the water and more until the cold water runs clear. Allow them to sit for 15 minutes. While the clams are soaking chop the shallots, garlic and chorizo.

Chorizo clams in a blue casserole dish
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Cook the chorizo for 5 minutes and then add the shallots and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. At this time dump out the water in the bowl, add the wine, salt, broth and clams. Cover and cook for another 7- 8 minutes and the clams are ready.

Chorizo clams in a white serving bowl
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Looking for other seafood recipes?

A white serving bowl with spicy chorizo clams
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Spicy Chorizo Clams

Sean Barfield
These spicy chorizo clams make a perfect weeknight meal. The clams are steamed in white wine with delicious chorizo and garlic. Serve with some freshly toasted bread or over a bowl of pasta and you have a meal ready in less than 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Spanish
Servings 4 servings
Calories 291 kcal

Equipment

  • Pan with a lid
  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
 
 

  • 5 pounds clams
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • ¾ cup chorizo chopped
  • ½ cup shallot chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large pan and add the chorizo. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the shallots and olive oil and cook until translucent, 3-5 minutes.
    ¾ cup chorizo, ½ cup shallot, 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. Add chicken broth, salt, butter, and white wine and bring to a boil.
    1 cup chicken broth, ¾ cup white wine, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons garlic, ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Add the clams and cover for 7 minutes.
    5 pounds clams
  • Remove from the heat, spoon the clams into a bowl and pour over the chorizo and white wine broth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 18gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 247mgPotassium: 258mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 804IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition Disclaimer*
Keyword 30 minute recipe, Easy to Make, White Wine
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Chorizo clams pinterest pin
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