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Clams in garlic butter sauce garnished with parsley and served on a white plate

Easy Garlic Butter Clams Recipe

This Easy Garlic Butter Clams recipe is a quick 15-minute seafood dish made with fresh clams, garlic, butter, and herbs. It's light, flavorful, and perfect for serving with bread or pasta. Ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions, and ready in just one pan.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian-inspired, Mediterranean
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs about 1 kg fresh clams, cleaned
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth or clam juice
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: red pepper flakes for heat

Method
 

  1. Clean the clams: Rinse and scrub under cold water. Soak in salted water for 20–30 minutes to purge sand. Rinse again.
  2. Sauté garlic: In a large pan, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Add clams: Pour in the broth and stir. Add clams to the pan and cover with a lid.
  4. Steam: Cook for 5–7 minutes until most clams open. Discard any that stay closed.
  5. Finish: Squeeze in lemon juice. Add chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  6. Serve hot with crusty bread or over pasta.