Clams Tamalli with Blistered Chile Verde Meunière
Photo: Coral Von Zumwalt
"In the Latin world, tamales (or tamalli, the Aztecan word) come in all shapes and sizes, not just the cornhusk-wrapped version," says John Rivera Sedlar, chef of Rivera restaurant in downtown L.A. Inspired by a trip to Baja, where he first saw giant surf clams (he now buys them live from a Korean fishmonger in L.A.), Sedlar stuffs the oversized shells with housemade masa mixed with chiles, corn kernels, and clam meat. Because the clams are hard to find and the method a bit labor-intensive for the home cook, we've started with prepared masa and steamed the tamales in ramekins. Sedlar's buttery French-inspired sauce, along with fresh clams, chiles, and garlic, goes on top.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put wine, shallots, and crushed garlic in a large pot. Set a steamer basket in pot, add clams, and cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer briskly over medium-high heat until clams open, 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 2
2
Transfer clams to a plate and let cool. Strain broth from pot; set aside 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. and chill. Remove meat from clams, saving 8 shells; chill meat and shells.
Step 3
3
Meanwhile, in a large frying pan over medium heat, sauté poblano chile, corn, and pepper in oil until chile is tender-crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Remove about 2 tbsp. of mixture and set aside.
Step 4
4
Stir masa in a bowl with 2 tbsp. reserved clam broth and 2 tbsp. water. Stir in corn mixture from pan and half of clam meat. Spoon into 8 (4- to 6-oz.) oiled ramekins; smooth tops. Cover each with foil.
Step 5
5
Put a rack in a roasting pan and fill pan with water to just below rack. Set ramekins on rack. Cover pan tightly with foil. Heat over 2 burners on high heat until a little steam escapes; reduce heat to medium-low and cook until tamales feel fairly firm, 35 minutes.
Step 6
6
Meanwhile, in a small frying pan over medium-high heat, cook jalapeños until blackened, turning occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool, then peel, seed, and dice.
Step 7
7
Boil reserved 3/4 cup clam broth in a saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/3 cup, 5 minutes. Stir in jalapeños. A few minutes before serving, whisk in butter a bit at a time until melted. Stir in remaining clams and heat until warm, then stir in shells.
Step 8
8
Unwrap ramekins; put on plates. Spoon clam sauce on top and set a clamshell on each. Top with reserved poblano chile, cilantro, and Fresno chiles.
Step 9
9
*Masa for tamales has fat, leavening, and salt added to ground corn. Find it at Latino markets.
Ingredients
2 cups dry white wine
2 shallots, sliced
5 garlic cloves; 2 crushed, 3 minced
3 pounds small clams in shells, scrubbed and rinsed
1 poblano chile, seeded and chopped
1 ear corn, kernels cut from the cob
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
2 cups prepared masa for tamales* (not masa for tortillas)
2 jalapeno chiles
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, chopped
Micro cilantro or amaranth sprouts (if available), or cilantro leaves
Diced red Fresno chiles
Directions
Step 1
1
Put wine, shallots, and crushed garlic in a large pot. Set a steamer basket in pot, add clams, and cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer briskly over medium-high heat until clams open, 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 2
2
Transfer clams to a plate and let cool. Strain broth from pot; set aside 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. and chill. Remove meat from clams, saving 8 shells; chill meat and shells.
Step 3
3
Meanwhile, in a large frying pan over medium heat, sauté poblano chile, corn, and pepper in oil until chile is tender-crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Remove about 2 tbsp. of mixture and set aside.
Step 4
4
Stir masa in a bowl with 2 tbsp. reserved clam broth and 2 tbsp. water. Stir in corn mixture from pan and half of clam meat. Spoon into 8 (4- to 6-oz.) oiled ramekins; smooth tops. Cover each with foil.
Step 5
5
Put a rack in a roasting pan and fill pan with water to just below rack. Set ramekins on rack. Cover pan tightly with foil. Heat over 2 burners on high heat until a little steam escapes; reduce heat to medium-low and cook until tamales feel fairly firm, 35 minutes.
Step 6
6
Meanwhile, in a small frying pan over medium-high heat, cook jalapeños until blackened, turning occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool, then peel, seed, and dice.
Step 7
7
Boil reserved 3/4 cup clam broth in a saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/3 cup, 5 minutes. Stir in jalapeños. A few minutes before serving, whisk in butter a bit at a time until melted. Stir in remaining clams and heat until warm, then stir in shells.
Step 8
8
Unwrap ramekins; put on plates. Spoon clam sauce on top and set a clamshell on each. Top with reserved poblano chile, cilantro, and Fresno chiles.
Step 9
9
*Masa for tamales has fat, leavening, and salt added to ground corn. Find it at Latino markets.
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