Learn how to make this simple recipe for Beer Steamed Clams – so easy you can even make them on the campfire!
Wow! How did it get to be July already? Halfway through the year, yet as I look out the window it is dark and cloudy and not feeling very summery at all. All part of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Luckily we have already had some great summery weather this year, so I’m not feeling too bad about it. About a month ago, Mr. Briar and I went on another “glamping” trip to Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands in Washington. I wrote about our first trip HERE if you want to see more about what glamping is. Since this was our second time going, we felt like old pros and decided to get creative with our campfire cooking.
We decided to look for some fresh local seafood and boy did we find it. We visited Buck Bay Shellfish Farm where we tried oysters for the first time! And we also picked up some clams to take home and cook over the campfire. You can see where they grow the oysters and clams right there in the bay from the picnic tables in front of the shop. If you are ever on Orcas Island, be sure to check them out, it is not to be missed!
I wanted to recreate the recipe at home on the stove so that I could share cooking instructions for both the campfire and stovetop – that way you don’t have to wait until you go camping to make these! I learned something important about clams, and that is that you really want Manilla Clams for this recipe. You will notice in the photos that some of the photos have smaller clams with purple on the shells – those are Manilla Clams. The all white clams are Little Necks. The Manilla Clams (sometimes called Steamers) are a much better option for steaming as they are more tender and sweet. The reason I have photos of two different kinds of clams is because some of the photos were taken at the campsite and some were taken at home!
This recipe is really so simple, and that is what makes it perfect for camping. The most important thing is to start with high quality, fresh clams. This recipe is ideal if you are camping at or very near the beach. You will need a dutch oven with a lid, a can of beer (a pale lager is best), a few tablespoons of butter, one lemon and a bunch of garlic. Throw everything in the pot with the clams, cover, and steam for 6-8 minutes, until they open. Aaaand you’re done. Seriously, that is it. Oh, you will probably want some bread to soak up the extra sauce.
Are you planning on going camping this summer? What is your favorite thing to make over the campfire?
These Beer Steamed Clams are so easy you can even make them on the campfire!
Some tools I used for this Recipe…
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Beer Steamed Clams - At home or on the campfire!
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds Manilla clams steamers
- 1 can of beer a pale lager is best
- 2-3 tablespoons butter
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- 6-8 cloves of garlic minced
Instructions
Campfire Instructions:
- Pour Beer into Dutch Oven. Add clams, butter, garlic and squeeze lemon wedges into pot and toss them in. Cover with lid and place over campfire. Steam for 5-8 minutes, until clams have opened.
Stovetop Instructions:
- Heat dutch oven over medium heat. Melt butter in the pot, add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beer and bring to a simmer. Add clams and squeeze lemon wedges into pot before tossing them in. Cover pot and steam clams for 6-8 minutes, until they have opened.
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Alaina @ A Not So Quiet Kitchen says
These look so good! I love clams steamed with wine but never thought to try it with beer!! And nothing beats fresh local seafood! I’ve been wanting to visit the San Juan Islands since we moved to Olympia a few years ago, I hear such wonderful things!
Meghan says
Oh do you live in Olympia Alaina? You should really go to the San Juans this sumer! They are beautiful!
Alaina @ A Not So Quiet Kitchen says
My family has lived there a couple years now. We want to visit the islands but there are so many beautiful things to see and do around this area! We’ll get up there one day!
Meghan says
It is true, there are so many fun things to do in Washington! WE are checking off our list too!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I would go camping all of the time if it meant dinners like this, instead of hot dogs and baked beans.
Meghan says
Thank you Nicole! Sometimes I like to fancy it up while camping 🙂
Joyce says
You have a beautiful blog! Looking forward to trying some of your recipes 🙂 I have my eye on the lamb kofta…
Meghan says
Thank you so much Joyce!
Mimi says
I can never make this recipe, sadly, because I can’t get my hands on fresh clams. But wow I guess I can drool over these beautiful photos and dream about the next time I go to the east coast!!!
Meghan says
Aww, thank you Mimi! Definitely best to wait for fresh clams, I hope you can make it to the beach soon!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Sounds & looks like you and your hubby certainly know the proper way to camp! Sounds absolutely perfect to me! This looks so good and love that it’s minutes to make! I don’t think I’ve ever cooked clams before, but have cooked lots of mussels, so I guess similar kinda thing. I’ll have to give clams a go ’cause this looks delicious! The weather here this week is cloudy, dark and not very warm. Oh well. I’m still gonna enjoy the good food that Summer brings regardless. Hubby and I haven’t camped in such a long time, but when we did I really enjoyed cooking breakfast with lots of beans and sausage. That was pretty sweet. Your making me think I want to camp again (or glamp 😉 )
Meghan says
Glamping MAY be the way to go 😉 Thank you Dawn! I think breakfast over the campfire is one of my favorites too.
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen says
These look amazing and I love how simple it is! I last ate clams a couple of weeks ago in Vietnam which were steamed in lemongrass at this heaving fresh seafood restaurant – so different to what its like in our countries!! Your photos make me really want to try cooking my own clams sometime now! We are heading into winter over here so no camping trips planned…only grey rainy days – can’t wait until next summer! x
Meghan says
Oh, clams with lemongrass sounds amazing! Thanks Claudia!
Leslie @ flora foodie says
Oh my word, clams on a campfire is awesome and way more glamorous than my usual camping meals! These look spectacular! I have been to Orcas Island a couple times and absolutely LOVE it, but haven’t been in so long. 🙁
Meghan says
Thanks so much Leslie! Orcas is so beautiful, I hope you ge to make it back soon!