Westport’s Catch & Cook: Razor Clam Pizza
By Suzy Sakamoto at The Perfect Tide
It was an exhilarating opening weekend for razor clamming in Westport! The beach was packed with clammers digging their fair share of our beloved clams, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.
Digging in the sand is fun in and of itself, but when kids and elders alike get their chance at digging for their dinner, it just doesn't get better than that! As my kids and I walked from our car towards the surf, we loved seeing several families filled with joy as they took in the fresh ocean breeze and light arm workout while digging for their dinner to share.
I had a great time with my three-year-old as we looked for clam shows together. He yelled in excitement every time he saw anything remotely close to a clam show (a swirl or donut-shaped hole in the sand). His favorite part was grabbing the clams as soon as he spotted the neck peeping out of the sand, as many can relate to that excitement!
To follow a successful dig, it doesn't get better than a fresh razor clam dinner. After clamming together, the best way to incorporate family or friends is by having them join in on the dinner process with a homemade pizza! It's one of my favorite ways to highlight razor clams. Plus, you can't beat an oceanview kitchen at Vacation By The Sea while preparing this pizza!
Our beloved clams are fun to dig, but the cleaning process is only fun if you have a great dinner to look forward to. Pacific razor clams have two major parts: the digger, a soft, tender part of the clam, and the neck, AKA the zipper, the tougher part. Use both for this pizza. If you are unsure about how to clean your razor clams, please visit my website where I share my easy step by step process for cleaning razor clams.
The Perfect Tide’s Razor Clam Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
RAZOR CLAMS
3-4 Large Pacific razor clams, neck and digger
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder or to taste
dash of salt and black pepper or to taste
PIZZA
16 oz raw pizza dough
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, torn
1/3 cup red onion thinly sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
PREPARING THE RAZOR CLAMS
Squeeze out the juice from the clams, then cut them into 1/2-inch strips. Pat dry with a paper towel and place in a medium-sized bowl.
Add olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the bowl and combine.
Place in the fridge uncovered while preparing the pizza.
ASSEMBLING THE PIZZA
Preheat the oven to 515°F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, if you prefer.
Roll out the pizza dough to approximately 10" and place it on the lined baking sheet.
Brush the pizza with olive oil to the edge. Then sprinkle on the garlic, salt, black pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Top the pizza with sliced red onion, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and razor clams. Salt and pepper to taste.
Bake for about 10-12 minutes, until crisp and golden brown.
Suzy Sakamoto
Hi, I'm Suzy! I'm all about everything coastal at The Perfect Tide! We aim for a catch-and-cook lifestyle for our family, with foraging guides and recipes that follow. My seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Along with being a seafood blogger, I have a variety of authentic Mediterranean recipes from my upbringing that feature fresh ingredients and are packed with flavor! Learn more about me, and I'd love for you to follow along.