Steamers with Beer

Name: Steamers with Beer
Ingredients: 2 cans beer; 2 onions, cut into medium dice; 3 ribs celery, sliced 1/4 inch thin; 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning; 5 pounds clams, scrubbed; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, foam skimmed; 1 cup cocktail sauce (make your own by combining 1/2 cup ketchup and 1/2 cup prepared horseradish with lemon juice and salt to taste); 4 lemons, cut into wedges

8 ingredients

9 steps

Ingredients

2 cans beer
2 onions, cut into medium dice
3 ribs celery, sliced 1/4 inch thin
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
5 pounds clams, scrubbed
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, foam skimmed
1 cup cocktail sauce (make your own by combining 1/2 cup ketchup and 1/2 cup prepared horseradish with lemon juice and salt to taste)
4 lemons, cut into wedges

Directions

1

In a large steamer pot (or you could use a pasta pot and steam the clams in two batches), combine the beer, onions, celery, and Old Bay seasoning.
2

Let the liquid come to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes before adding the clams (in the steaming basket) on top.
3

Cover the pot.
4

As the clams start to open (check after 3 to 4 minutes), start removing them with tongs to a heated bowl.
5

(Any clams that do not open can be pried open using an oyster shucker or discarded.)
6

Serve the clams with bowls of melted butter, cocktail sauce, lemon wedges, and tiny cocktail forks.
7

You can also dip the clams into the steaming brew.
8

If youre really fond of salt, beer, and clams, youll want to do what my grandfather did: use the spigot on the bottom of the steamer pot and pour yourself a mug of the infused brew.
9

Papa wasnt a drinking man, but he sure liked his salty clam brew.