Clams Casino with Pancetta

This month, the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club is celebrating with a backyard BBQ and my contribution is this mouthwatering delicious Clams Casino with Pancetta!

This recipe is the perfect one for your end of summer bash barbeque. Imagine your friends drooling over the elegant appetizer you brought to their party! You can basically prep these ahead of time and place under the broiler just before serving time to finish the recipe off.

I highly recommend a lot of lemon slices to go with your appetizer. The acid from the lemon is just what these clams need before popping one into your hungry mouth. I may go a little overboard because I am a huge citrus affeciendo, I could or could not be known as the person who has to have one lemon section per clam!

Be sure to check out what other members of the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club brought to our picnic!

Sarah, All Our Fingers in the Pie– Main- Backyard Barbeque Ribs

Jerry, A Life Lived – Soup/Salad - Farro Salad with Cherry Tomato, Onion, and Almonds

Sandi, Whistlestop Cafe – Lemon Caper Potato Salad Bites

Susan, The Spice Garden - Beverage/Appetizer- Paradise Cocktails and Seared Scallop Amuse Bouche

Val, More than Burnt Toast - Dessert – Summer Berry Medley with Limoncello and Mint

Clams Casino with Pancetta

Author: slightly adapted from Cooking Light

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 7 mins

Total time: 27 mins

Serves: 36 clams

Ingredients

¾ cup finely diced pancetta
2 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 garlic clove, minced
1 slice day old country white bread
1-½ tablespoon grated fresh parmigiana cheese
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon black pepper
36 littleneck clams, cleaned
Lemon Wedges

Instructions

Instructions
Over medium heat in medium sized skillet coated with cooking spray, cook pancetta until beings to brown, about 6 minutes. Add wine and cook until liquid evaporates scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add bell pepper, shallots, and garlic and cook until tender. Set aside in a medium bowl.
Process bread in food processor until crumbs are course, should measure about ¾ cup. Add breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley and black pepper to pancetta mixture. Stir until blended.
Pre-heat boiler.
Clean and shuck clams. Discard any with open shells. Top each clam with about 1 rounded teaspoon pancetta mixture. Broil 4 minutes, turn pan and broile additional 3 minutes or until tops are browned and clams are done. Serve with lemon wedges.
Yield: 36 clams (12 servings, 3 clams each for appetizer)

Calories: 21 Fat: 2.9 Carbohydrates: 3.2 Protein: 5.3