• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Events
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies

    Modified: Mar 20, 2023 · Published: Aug 2, 2017 by Ashley

    • Facebook
    • Email
    • Flip
    • Threads
    • Bluesky

    This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·Leave a Review

    A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking!

    Guys. Have you heard about Bacon Month?

    My friend Julie over at Bread Booze Bacon is hosting her 5th Annual Bacon Month celebration, and I was stoked to hop on board with a rockin' team of bloggers to celebrate all things bacon-centric for the next 4 Wednesdays.

    I figured I should kick things off with a bang by combining a few of my very favorite ingredients for this week's Bacon Month contribution:

    Bacon. Wine. Seafood.

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    Now before I get too far ahead of myself, let me introduce you to the people who will LITERALLY be bringin' home the bacon for our August celebration...

    Bacon Month 2017 Bloggers

    Bread Booze Bacon | Cooking in Stilettos | Big Flavors From a Tiny Kitchen

    Rants From My Crazy Kitchen | Kleinworth & Co. | Live Laugh Rowe

    Served Up with Love | Kudos Kitchen by Renee | Wholesome Yum

    We'll each be sharing a different bacon-centric recipe for the next 4 weeks - that's 9 new bacon recipes each and every week!

    And if that's not enough bacon-y goodness, you can also check out my other bacon recipes or grab bacon recipes from Julie's previous Bacon Months too!

    And now, onto my luscious bacon and clam recipe!

     

    A post shared by Ashley Covelli (@bigflavors) on May 6, 2017 at 7:03pm PDT

    I actually made this recipe back in May after a beautiful day at my local Farmers Market. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and there were a ton of inspiring ingredients at the various vendors' booths.

    The first thing that caught my eye was some gorgeous littleneck clams. If you haven't heard of littleneck clams before, Wikipedia has you covered with this info on hard clams:

    In fish markets, there are specialist names for different sizes of this species of clam. The smallest legally harvestable clams are called countnecks, next size up are littlenecks, then topnecks. Above that are the cherrystones, and the largest are called quahogs or chowder clams.

    Littlenecks are nice because they're small and cook up really quickly. Just make sure you give them a soak to remove any grit, followed by a good scrub before cooking with them.

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    After purchasing some clams, I was at a produce vendor grabbing a few veggies when I saw my friend Luis, who owns the local coffee shop in my town (which, by the way, is fabulous and just won Best of Westchester's Best Latte! Yay, Ossining!!).

    Luis saw the items that I was getting and started buying the same things, joking around that he was copying my shopping.

    I already had some tomatoes and asparagus, so he grabbed those, and I saw that he was eyeing the shiitake mushrooms, so I snagged a few of those as well.

    We jokingly turned it into a contest to see who could make a better meal with the ingredients we bought.

     

    A post shared by Ashley Covelli (@bigflavors) on May 6, 2017 at 9:39am PDT

    After plenty of laughs, I came home with a bounty of beautiful ingredients and started thinking about what I wanted to cook with them.

    I love any dish that encourages the sopping up of juices with a nice piece of crusty bread (bonus points if that bread is grilled and garlic-rubbed!) and this dish is no exception!

    I cooked the veggies in one skillet and let them sit off to the side while I got the bacon nice and crispy in another pot, then steamed the clams in wine.

    When cooking clams, make sure to keep an eye on them. You want to stop the cooking process as soon as they all open up. The longer they sit on the heat after they've opened, the more likely they are to overcook. And nobody likes a rubbery clam.

    If any of your clams don't open up, they're no good and should be discarded.

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    These clams turned out to be nice and plump, and when paired with all that smoky bacon... YUM.

    I really enjoyed the mix of veggies and meat in this dish, and my family absolutely loved it as well. This made just the right amount of food for me, my husband, and our 5-year-old. It could definitely be stretched to 4 servings if you had a salad or some other side dish to go with it.

    You can also easily just add some more clams to the pot to up the number of servings you'll get out of this recipe. It's total date night food, too, and it doesn't take forever to prepare.

    Now that's my kind of meal!

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    Curious to see what everyone else is whipping up for this week's bacon extravaganza? Check out the full list here:

    Aug 2nd Bacon Month Collage

    Crock Pot Bacon Ranch Cheesy Chicken Hash

    Bacon Wrapped Sweet Pepper Poppers

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine

    Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

    Bacon & Ranch Slow Cooker Potatoes

    BLT Skewers with Grilled Cheese Bites

    Zucchini Noodle Salad with Bacon and Tomatoes

    Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Salad

    Bacon Caramelized Onion Dip

    Looking for more of my own bacon favorites? Check out these 5-star recipes:

    • Instant Pot Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup
    • Red Lentil Fusilli with Bacon, Butternut Squash, and Spinach
    • Instant Pot “Baked” Beans
    • Cheesy Bacon + Apple Croissants
    • Bacon and Caramelized Onion Jam
    • Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza with Brussels Sprouts, Bacon + Pomegranate
    • Single-Skillet Bacon-Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Roasted Tomatoes
    • Bourbon Bacon Pecan Pie with a Whole Wheat Crust
    • Bacon and Caramelized Onion Jam Naan Pizza with Gorgonzola and Apples
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
    • Author: Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen - Ashley Covelli
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 2-3 Servings 1x
    • Category: DInner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    For Veggies:

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced shallot (about ½ of a medium-large shallot)
    • 2 heads Shanghai bok choy, stem end removed, then cut into 1-inch wide slices, dark green parts separated
    • ½ cup sliced shiitake caps (from about 10 mushrooms)
    • ¾ cup chopped tomatoes
    • 1 bunch asparagus (about 12 stalks), trimmed and cut into 1-inch long pieces
    • ½ cup water
    • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

    For Clams:

    • 5-6 slices bacon, sliced into lardons (about 1 cup total)
    • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
    • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced shallot (about ½ of a medium-large shallot)
    • ¾ cup chopped tomatoes
    • 24 little neck clams, soaked and scrubbed
    • ½ cup white wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
    • Fresh snipped chives, for serving (optional)
    • Crusty bread, for dunking (optional)

    Instructions

    1. For Veggies: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallot and cook until fragrant and starting to soften, about 1-2 minutes. Add the thick ends of the bok choy to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they start to get tender, about 3 minutes.
    2. Reduce heat to medium and add the dark green ends of the bok choy, mushrooms, and tomatoes to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato melts down into the rest of the veggies. Add asparagus and water and cook until the asparagus is just tender. Set aside, covered, to keep warm while you prepare the clams.
    3. For Clams: Place bacon in a large saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. until crispy. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and discard all but 1-2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan.
    4. Add garlic and shallot to the pan and cook until they start to brown, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Add tomato and let cook for another minute or 2 until it melts down a bit. Add clams to the pan along with wine and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook, covered, until the clams are fully opened, about 5 minutes. Remove lid and scatter bacon over the cooked clams.
    5. Serve clams on top of the sautéed veggies with snipped chives scattered on top and a side of crusty bread for dunking, if desired.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 603
    • Sugar: 9.4 g
    • Sodium: 1140.2 mg
    • Fat: 43.6 g
    • Saturated Fat: 11.7 g
    • Carbohydrates: 24.4 g
    • Fiber: 6.4 g
    • Protein: 30.8 g
    • Cholesterol: 78.6 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @bigflavors on Instagram and hashtag it #cookbigflavors

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
    Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies: A bed of sautéed veggies makes the perfect base for this bacon-loaded seafood dish. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking! #BaconMonth

    More Main Dish Recipes

    • Bowl of sautéed shrimp with pickled onions, cilantro rice, guacamole, tomatoes, and sour cream.
      Shrimp Burrito Bowls
    • Chicken and bell pepper stir-fry served over white rice.
      Chicken and Bell Pepper Stir-Fry
    • Chicken and veggies simmering in a saucepan.
      Chicken a la King
    • Two shallow bowls with rice and chicken paillards topped with tomato-dill relish.
      Dill Chicken Paillards with Tomato-Dill Relish

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa B Haydon

      August 02, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      What a flavorful recipe, can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        August 06, 2017 at 5:30 pm

        It really does pack in lots of flavor. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Kelly

      August 02, 2017 at 9:41 pm

      I've never had clams... not a huge seafood lover. However, this sounds pretty amazing.

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        August 06, 2017 at 5:30 pm

        I didn't grow up eating seafood ever, but it's become a favorite over the last few years. As for this dish, bacon makes everything better!

        Reply
    3. Karen

      August 03, 2017 at 11:39 pm

      I am obsessed with littleneck clams. This looks so delicious! I am definitely making this!!!

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        August 06, 2017 at 5:30 pm

        Aren't littlenecks great?? What's your favorite way to prepare them?

        Reply
        • Karen

          August 06, 2017 at 5:37 pm

          I love stir frying them with Asian flavors!

          Reply
          • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

            August 06, 2017 at 5:42 pm

            That sounds incredible - I've never used them in a stir-fry. What time is dinner? 😉

            Reply
    4. Renee Goerger

      August 09, 2017 at 9:34 am

      I'm loving the elegance factor of this dish. It's so pretty!! I also love the photos you have of all your ingredients on the chopping board and by the stove ready to cook. So colorful. You've definitely made me hungry!
      Renee - Kudos Kitchen

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        August 09, 2017 at 10:01 am

        Thanks so much! It's so fun being inspired by gorgeously fresh ingredients!

        Reply
    5. nah

      March 30, 2018 at 3:14 am

      [url=https://myspace.com/buy.generic]cheap cialis pills for sale[/url]

      Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Ashley and I’ve been writing about food & recipes here at Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen since 2006. I want to help you (yes, you!) gain confidence in the kitchen so you are excited to cook at home for yourself and your loved ones.

    More about me →

    Favorite Spring Recipes

    • Mayo-free Deviled Eggs
    • Middle Eastern Fattoush Salad with Homemade Pita Chips
    • Birthday Cake Confetti Pancakes with Sprinkles
    • Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake
    • Garlicky Mushroom Ricotta Pizza with Wild Arugula + Aged Balsamic
    • Slow Cooker "Roasted" Beets
    • Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
    • Italian Ricotta Cookies
    • Rhubarb Custard Pie
    • Easy Instant Pot Herbed Potato Salad

    Mother's Day + Easter Brunch

    • Epic Brunch Board on a Budget
    • Baby Spinach and Cheddar Quiche Made with Fresh Spinach
    • Turkey Salad Tea Sandwiches with Dried Cherries
    • Great Grandma Maria Francesca Cardile's Italian Easter Cookies
    • Brie Waffle Bites
    • Challah French Toast
    • Creamsicle Smoothies
    • DM Bloody Mary
    • Turkey Scotch Eggs
    • The Herbalist

    Popular Now

    • Overhead view of spinach and cheddar quiche with forks.
      Baby Spinach and Cheddar Quiche Made with Fresh Spinach

    • Close up of a few cucumber slices topped with a spiced chickpea purée.
      Falafel-Spiced Cucumber Bites

    • Overhead shot of a plate with rectangles of white coconut jelly.
      Coconut Jelly

    • Falafel in pita bread with toppings served with yogurt-herb sauce.
      Falafel with Yogurt-Herb Sauce

    • Overhead view of assorted breakfast items displayed on a board.
      Epic Brunch Board on a Budget

    • No Mayo Deviled Eggs: Skip the mayo in this appetizer favorite - guaranteed to be a hit at any party!
      No Mayo Deviled Eggs

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Ashley
    • Press + Recognition
    • Events
    • Virtual Cooking Classes
    • Podcast
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up to receive delicious recipes and exclusive content right to your inbox!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no added cost to you.

    ©2006–2025  BIG FLAVORS FROM A TINY KITCHEN LLC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    *Third-party advertisers may collect or use non-personally identifiable information to serve you more relevant ads.