Clam Balls

Total Time: 5 mins Preparation Time: 4 mins Cook Time: 1 min

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 2 (8 ounce) cans minced clams
• 1 tablespoon bacon fat
• 2 teaspoons shallots, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon flour, plus
• 1 1/2 teaspoons flour
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 4 dashes tabasco sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• oil (for deep frying)

Recipe

• 1 drain clams, reserving liquid. you will have about 1 cup liquid and 1 cup clam meat.
• 2 melt the bacon fat in a skillet and saute the shallots and garlic for about 3 minutes.
• 3 off the heat, blend in the flour, stirring until it is all incorporated.
• 4 add 1/4 cup clam liquid and cream gradually.
• 5 return to the heat and cook over moderate heat until the sauce is very thick.
• 6 remove from the heat and add remaining ingredients.
• 7 fold in the clams.
• 8 refrigerate mixture at least 4 hours.
• 9 with a teaspoon measure form balls 1/2-inch in diameter.
• 10 place on wax paper.
• 11 in a small, heavy skillet pour oil to a depth of 1-inch and heat to 365°f
• 12 drop in 3 balls at a time, frying about 1 minute.
• 13 remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• 14 these can be kept warm in a 200°f oven.
• 15 if made in advance, reheat in a 425f oven placed on a wire rack in a jelly-roll pan for 7 minutes.
• 16 can be frozen. place on a flat surface to freeze, then put in a freezer bag and seal. reheat frozen balls in a 350f oven for 10 minutes.