Clam Or Mussel Stew With Greens And Beans Recipes

Steps:

• Put the oil in a saucepan large enough to hold all the clams or mussels over medium heat. When hot, add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, 5 minutes.
• Add the liquid along with the clams or mussels, turn the heat up to high, and cover the pot. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until they all (or nearly all) open, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Scoop the mussels into a serving bowl. Remove as many shallots as you can with a slotted spoon and scatter them on top. Pour or ladle off the accumulated liquid, leaving any sediment in the bottom of the pan, and pour it over the mussels. Garnish with parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Blanch the cavolo nero in heavily salted boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain, let cool, and squeeze out the excess water with your hands. Cut the greens into 1-inch ribbons.
• Heat a very large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Pour in the 1/2 cup olive oil and wait a minute. Add the onion, fennel, garlic, crumbled chiles, rosemary, and thyme to the pan. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and lots of pepper. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion starts to wilt. Add the greens, and stir them to coat with the oil and onions. Cook about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and tender and the greens start to break down.
• Drain the beans and reserve the liquid. Add the beans to the vegetables, and cook a minute or two. Turn the heat up to high and add the clams. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the mussels, and stir well to combine. Pour in the vermouth and cover the pan. Let the shellfish steam a few minutes, until they open. Remove the lid and add 1 cup of the bean-cooking liquid. If the dish doesn't seem brothy enough, add a little more. Bring to a boil, stirring well to combine the flavors, and swirl in the butter. Taste for seasoning.
• Serve in a large shallow bowl with a large serving spoon. Pass the super-good extra-virgin olive oil and hunks of crusty bread at the table. Remember to provide small bowls for shells.
• Cannellini Beans
• Toast the fennel seeds in a small pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until they release their aroma and are golden brown. Pound the fennel seeds coarsely in a mortar.
• Heat a medium pot over high heat for 2 minutes. Pour in the olive oil, and add the rosemary sprig and the crumbled chile. Let them sizzle in the oil about 1 minute. Add the onion, thyme, and fennel seeds, and sauté about 2 minutes, until the onion is wilted.
• Add the beans to the pan and cook another minute, stirring to coat well. Cover with water by 3 inches, and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn the heat down to low, and place a paper towel over the beans to keep them underwater. Simmer, stirring once in a while. After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans, and continue cooking at a low simmer until the beans are tender, about an hour. Remove the beans from the heat, and let them cool in their juices. As the beans cook, add water as necessary, but not too much. You want the bean liquid to be rich and a little starchy, because it will be an important part of the finished broth.
• Note
• I like to use a wide pan, ideally 14 inches across, as opposed to a deep pan for this dish. That way all of the shellfish get coated and cook evenly. With a deeper pot, it's difficult to stir, and inevitably some of the mussels and clams end up on the top, brothless and dried out. If you don't have a lid for that wide pan, use a piece of tinfoil or two to fake a lid for steaming. And if you don't have a really wide pan, use two of your widest pans and split the recipe between them.
• You can make the beans the day before.

Steps:

• Scrub mussels and clams in cool water. Remove beards from mussels, and discard all broken or opened shells. Remove from water, and refrigerate until needed.
• Heat broiler or grill to medium-high heat. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Place on grill or under broiler for about 30 seconds on each side or until golden. While still hot, rub tops with cut side of garlic clove.
• Place a large stockpot on grill or stove over medium heat. Add butter. When melted and bubbling, add leeks, shallots, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and chile. Saute until leeks and shallots are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add white wine, and salt and pepper to taste; bring to a simmer. Add mussels and clams; cover; cook until shells open, about 7 minutes. Serve in a bowl with the croutons.