WELLFLEET AND MANILA CLAM SAUCE

Wellfleet and Manila Clam Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons finely sliced garlic
1/4 cup finely julienned basil leaves
1/2 pound Applewood-smoked bacon, diced and cooked crisp
18 Littleneck clams from Wellfleet, MA
18 Manila clams
1/2 bottle rose wine
1 quart canned clam broth
8 ounces (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup fennel, finely diced
1 ounce preserved Meyer lemon peel, julienned
Salt and pepper
Meyer lemon juice, to adjust acidity

Steps:

Heat a large saucepan until moderately hot. Add olive oil. Saute fennel, bacon and garlic. Add the clams and deglaze with the rose wine. Pull the clams out as they open. Reduce the wine by 3/4. Add the clam broth and bring to a boil. Add the butter to the boiling liquid, continue to boil until the butter is incorporated. Just before serving, add the clams back to the sauce, along with the Meyer lemon peel, basil leaves, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.