Clam pie facts for kids
A clam pie is a tasty, savory pie made with clams as the main ingredient. It's a popular dish in New England, a region in the northeastern United States. Long ago, even before English settlers arrived, native people like the Wampanoag tribe in Southern New England likely ate pies made from clams. Sometimes, a clam pie can even be a type of pizza! For example, the famous White clam pie started in New Haven, Connecticut.
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What is a Clam Pie?
A clam pie is a savory dish that uses clams as its main ingredient. It's baked inside a pie crust. Besides clams, other ingredients often include potatoes, corn, onions, and celery. People might also add garlic, clam juice, milk, eggs, butter, and different seasonings.
You can make clam pie with either fresh or canned clams. Sometimes, a little flour is added to make the mixture thicker. The pie is usually cooked by baking it in an oven until it's golden brown and delicious. It's a classic part of the food traditions in New England.
History of Clam Pies
Clam pies have a long history! There's proof that the Wampanoag tribe, who lived in what is now Southern New England and Cape Cod, ate pies made from clams even before English settlers came in the early 1600s.
Pies were also very common in Europe during the Middle Ages. When English settlers came to the Plymouth Colony, they cooked many kinds of pies. This was a smart way to keep food fresh, especially meats and seafood, during the long winters before refrigerators existed. The pie crust acted like a protective container.
Different Kinds of Clam Pies
Clam Pizza Pie
Yes, a clam pie can even be a pizza! In this version, clams are used as a topping on a pizza crust. You can use fresh or canned clams, and they can be chopped up or left whole.
One very famous type of clam pizza is the White clam pie. It comes from New Haven, Connecticut. This pizza usually has pizza dough, clams, olive oil, grated Romano cheese, garlic, and oregano. The White clam pie was first made at a restaurant called Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, back in the 1950s.
Bonac Clam Pie
On Eastern Long Island, New York, there's a special kind of clam pie called Bonac Clam Pie. It's named after the Bonackers, who are descendants of the first white settlers in that area, especially around Accabonac Harbor. For many years, people in this part of East Hampton were known for being clammers and fishermen. The recipes for Bonac Clam Pie have been passed down through families for generations, so each family might have its own unique way of making it!
