Clams on the BBQ
Mussels are a firm favourite of mine so when I saw fresh clams in my local supermarket I thought I should try them on the BBQ.
The recipe I came up with is not dissimilar to how I would cook mussels, but the addition of the honey really adds some sweetness to this dish. This is a great dish for a light lunch and love doing this in the summer.
I own the Weber Gourmet BBQ System (GBS), so I can cook this dish easily on the BBQ using the wok. If you don’t own the GBS you can use an overproof dish which will get you the same results. Just set you BBQ up for indirect cooking. I do it this way and add a wood chunk to infuse a bit more smokiness to the clams as the cook time is relatively short. I get my wood chunks from the Smokewood Shack. Great selection of wood and really quick delivery.
Now for the Cooking
The first thing to do is get your BBQ lit and the coals ready to cook on. Once you are ready to cook start by making your sauce for the clams. This is just a case of adding the onions and garlic to the wok with a little butter. Once you have fried them off a bit add the white wine and white wine vinegar. Finally, stir in the honey and cook for a period with the other ingredients before adding the clams.
When I initially add the clams I put the lid on the BBQ to help get them infused with smoke. I tend to leave them for around 5 minutes and then give them a good stir making sure they all get covered in the lovely sauce. I repeat this until all the clams have opened.
To serve I simply add to a bowl and cover with a good amount of the sauce. I love to also slice some Sourdough and either toast it with some garlic butter or just serve it untoasted to dunk in the lovely sweet sauce.
Smokey Sweet BBQ Clams
- Prep Time1 min
- Cook Time25 min
- Total Time26 min
Ingredients
For the Clams
- 1kg Clams
- 1 Onion
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 30g Butter
- 25ml White Wine Vinegar
- 175ml White Wine
- 75ml Honey
Method
Start by lighting your BBQ and set it up for indirect cooking. Whilst is coming up to cooking temperature clean your clams by running them under cold water.
Once you are ready to cook add the butter to the wok and add the finely diced onion and cook for around 5 minutes. Add the crushed garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Next, add the white wine vinegar and white wine and cook for around 10 minutes. Finally, add the Honey, mix on well and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Pour in the clams to the wok and give them a good stir around covering them with all that lovely sauce. This is where I cover them and let them cook, absorbing the smokiness from the wood chunks. Check on them every 5 minutes and give them a good stir around each time.
Once the clams open up they are ready to serve.
Clams have a built-in timer and are done cooking when they just start to open. If you wait until the shell is spread wide open, they will likely be overcooked so remove the pan from the heat when the shells start to open up and use your fingers for the rest. Discard any clams that don’t open.
