Clams casino facts for kids
Clams casino over rock salt with lemon and parsley garnish
|
|
| Place of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Rhode Island |
| Main ingredients | clam, breadcrumbs and bacon |
Clams casino is a tasty dish made with clams. It's usually served in the clam shell. Key ingredients include breadcrumbs and bacon. Sometimes, green peppers are added too. This dish started in Rhode Island, United States. People often eat it as a small starter dish, called an appetizer, especially in New England. You can find different versions of it all over the country.
What's in Clams Casino?
This dish uses special types of clams. These are often called littleneck or cherrystone clams. Other main ingredients include butter, peppers, bacon, and garlic.
You might also find Worcestershire sauce in the recipe. Salt, pepper, and white wine are common additions. Lemon juice and shallots (which are like small onions) can also be used. Some recipes add a bit of Tabasco sauce for a spicy kick. Often, fresh parsley is sprinkled on top as a garnish to make it look nice.
How to Make Clams Casino
Making clams casino involves cooking the clams and bacon. Other ingredients are also cooked. Then, everything is mixed with breading. This mixture is placed back into half of the clam shell.
The shells are then baked or broiled. Broiling means cooking under direct heat. The goal is to make the dish golden brown and crispy.
There are many ways to prepare this dish. But one thing always stays the same: the bacon. Many chefs agree that bacon is the most important part. Some like to use smoked bacon for a salty taste. Others prefer unsmoked bacon for a different flavor.
The History of Clams Casino
The story says that clams casino was first made in 1917. It happened at a place called the Little Casino. This was in Narragansett, Rhode Island. A special restaurant manager, called a maître d'hôtel, created it. He made it for a wealthy woman who wanted something unique for her guests.
The dish was named after the Little Casino hotel. Soon, people all over the United States heard about it. It even became popular in New Orleans. There, people sometimes use oysters instead of clams. Clams casino is still a very popular dish in Rhode Island. You can find it on almost every restaurant menu there.
Around the early 1900s, many restaurants tried to create special baked shellfish dishes. Clams casino is one of the few that are still popular today. Another famous one is oysters Rockefeller.
This dish is very popular with Italian-Americans. It's often found on menus in places like Little Italy, Manhattan. It's considered a classic American dish. Clams casino is often served at Italian festivals and during holidays in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Almejas casino para niños
