Description
Ina Garten’s summer skillet blends succulent clams, spicy sausage, and sweet corn into a coastal-inspired feast. Coastal ingredients mingle perfectly, creating one delicious dish you will savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.75 lbs (340 g) sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 32 fresh littleneck clams, scrubbed
- 3 cups (450 g) fresh corn kernels, cut off the cob (4 to 5 ears)
- 1 lbs (450 g) vine-ripened tomatoes, 0.5-inch diced
- 1.5 cups (240 g) small-diced yellow onion (1 large)
- 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
- 2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter, large-diced
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) julienned fresh basil leaves
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- French bread, for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Gently cook chopped onions until translucent and soft, about 4-5 minutes.
- Build Flavor Base: Add sausage to the skillet, breaking into bite-sized pieces. Cook until meat browns and loses pink color, creating a rich flavor foundation.
- Layer Ingredients: Introduce corn kernels, diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Combine and sauté for 3 minutes to meld flavors intensely.
- Create Liquid Foundation: Deglaze skillet with white wine, then dot surface with butter, creating a glossy, flavorful liquid base for the seafood.
- Steam Clams: Arrange fresh clams in tight concentric circles, hinged sides down. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil, then immediately cover and reduce temperature.
- Finish and Serve: Steam clams for 8-12 minutes until shells open completely. Transfer to shallow bowls, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve alongside crusty French bread for a complete summer feast.
Notes
- Sauté Smartly: Gently cook onions until translucent to build a flavorful base without browning, releasing natural sweetness.
- Sausage Secrets: Break sausage into small pieces for even cooking and maximum caramelization, ensuring no pink meat remains.
- Clam Cooking Technique: Position clams with hinged sides down to promote uniform steaming and prevent uneven cooking.
- Wine Deglazing Magic: Use white wine to lift browned bits from skillet, creating a rich sauce that enhances overall dish depth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg