Clams steamed in beer is a favorite pub dish, and for good reason. The aroma of the hops in beer perfumes the shellfish and the malty flavor adds an extra roundness to the broth. Your kitchen will smell amazing! The sweetness of the clams, the licorice essence of fennel, the salty-smoky depth of bacon, and the slight bitterness of the stout make this a complex and flavor-packed dish.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Put a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. When the pot is hot, add the bacon and fry until it gets crispy and renders the fat, roughly 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate. Add the potatoes to the delicious fat left in the pot. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the potatoes get a little color and start to soften up, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, fennel, garlic, and pepper. Continue to cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.
Step 2
Raise the heat to high. Toss in the clams and pour in the stout and stock. Give everything a good stir and cover the pot. Steam until the clams open, 5 to 8 minutes, discarding any that do not open. Stir in the butter and sprinkle the reserved fennel fronds on top. Serve the braised clams from the pot, ladling portions at the table.
