Stuffed Clam

A regional specialty hailing from New England, stuffed clam is usually made with a mixture of clam meat, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs or crumbled crackers, butter, and parsley. This mixture is stuffed into clam shells before being baked. Other typical ingredients include red and green peppers, celery, lemon juice, paprika, red pepper, and cayenne pepper. Often referred to as stuffies, the dish is typically made with the meat of large clams such as quahogs or cherrystone clams, and it can also be enhanced with grated parmesan cheese. Some variations of the dish call for a chunkier or smoother filling, while others use a variety of additions in the mixture, such as crispy bacon strips or lingucia, a type of Portuguese sausage. While the dish is usually consumed as an appetizer, it can also be served as a main meal for lunch or dinner, when it is accompanied by other foods. Stuffed clams are a typical treat at festive occasions and can be commonly found throughout New England’s coast.