Clam Cakes, My Rhode Island Style Recipe

Name: Clam Cakes, My Rhode Island Style
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1-1 1/4 cups minced clams, Quahogs preferred, or other hard shell clams; 3 eggs; 1/2-3/4 cups corn cut off the cob, raw or cooked, silver queen or shoepeg preferred; 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk otherwise); 1/2 cup clam broth; 1/2 cup beer, Narragansett suggested, or more clam broth; 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar or maple syrup; canola oil for deep frying

Servings: persons

1-1 1/4 cups minced clams, Quahogs preferred, or other hard shell clams
3 eggs
1/2-3/4 cups corn cut off the cob, raw or cooked, silver queen or shoepeg preferred
1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk otherwise)
1/2 cup clam broth
1/2 cup beer, Narragansett suggested, or more clam broth
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon light brown sugar or maple syrup
canola oil for deep frying

1
If you are only making this recipe, then you will want around 4 quarts of unshucked clams. The easy direction is to scrub the shells well and steam just until they open. If you are not familiar with clams, and you want more help, then you may want to soak them in a gallon of cool water with about 1/3 cup of kosher salt dissolved (do not use iodized salt!) and 1 cup of cornmeal for 2-3 hours to tease out any sand. Then scrub the shells and rinse clean under cold running water. Discard any that aren't tightly closed. I usually just scrub and steam. Put the clams in a stockpot and cover with cool water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover the pot and cook just until the quahogs open, about 5 minutes. Don't overcook. Immediately remove the quahogs from the pot. Save the broth to use in a chowder base. When clams are cool, mince into 1/8 to 1/4 inch chunks. Make sure there is no sand in the bellies. Clean and rinse if needed. Sometimes I use more clams and less corn in this recipe. The total combined amount should not exceed 2 cups, but be at least 1 cup.
2
Mix the eggs, milk, broth, and beer together. Stir in the minced clams and corn. If I have leftover corn on the cob, then I use cooked. If I have fresh corn, then I use it raw off the cob, as long as it is a tender kind of corn.
3
Mix the dry ingredients together. Stir in the wet ingredients.
4
When your oil is sizzling (@ 350), drop a tablespoon at a time of the batter into the fat. I just cooked three batches, 10-12 as a batch, in a small Dutch oven in oil about 3 inches deep . These puff up quickly, within 5 minutes. When each has turned golden brown and floats to the top, drain on paper towels. Serve in parchment cones while hot, about 6 per person. I do not like to keep these warm and serve later. So be ready to gobble them right after you cook them. Serve these up plain or with some bread and butter pickles for our odd New England tradition.

606

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 11 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1-1 1/4 cups minced clams, Quahogs preferred, or other hard shell clams, 3 eggs, 1/2-3/4 cups corn cut off the cob, raw or cooked, silver queen or shoepeg preferred, 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk otherwise), and more.

Yes, Clam Cakes, My Rhode Island Style falls under the Seafood category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–5 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months — no need to refrigerate or reheat.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Clam Cakes, My Rhode Island Style

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions