Imagine an artisanal round loaf, golden and crusty on the outside with slits across the top. Upon slicing, reveals a creamy clam filling, speckled with herbs, bits of bacon and the vibrant green of peas; contrasting the warm, soft, delicious bread that encapsulates it.

Clam Filled Boule de Campagne

Name: Clam Filled Boule de Campagne
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: fresh clams, 1 dozen cleaned; white wine, 2 cups; garlic, 4 cloves minced; medium onion, 1 finely chopped; bacon, 4 slices diced; green peas, 1 cup; heavy cream, 1 cup; Thyme, 1 tsp; Freshly ground pepper, to taste; Boule de Campagne (country loaf), 1; unsalted butter, 2 tbsp; olive oil, 1 tsp; Sea salt, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style French

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: March 25, 2024

Add a touch of the sea to your day with this delightful creation! Inspired by French cuisine, we're introducing a unique ensemble of clams embraced in a warm, crusty loaf. This interesting combination is exciting, inviting, and sure to leave you wanting more.

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh clams - 1 dozen - cleaned
White wine - 2 cups
Garlic - 4 cloves - minced
Medium onion - 1 - finely chopped
Bacon - 4 slices - diced
Green peas - 1 cup
Heavy cream - 1 cup
Thyme - 1 tsp
Freshly ground pepper - to taste
Boule de campagne (country loaf) - 1
Unsalted butter - 2 tbsp
Olive oil - 1 tsp
Sea salt - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🌡️🔥⏲️

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2 - 🥓🔥🍳

Sauté the bacon in a deep pan over medium heat until crisp, then set aside. Keep the rendered bacon fat.
Step 3 - 🧄🌰🍳

In the same pan with the bacon fat, sauté the garlic and onion until the onions become translucent.
Step 4 - 🦪🍷🔪

Add clams and white wine to the pan, cover and cook until clams open. Discard any that do not open. Then remove clams from their shells and chop them. Set a few whole clams aside for garnish.
Step 5 - 🍵🌿🍲

Add the peas, cream, cooked bacon, thyme, pepper, and chopped clams into the pan. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Step 6 - 🔪🍞🕳️

Carve out a large hole from the top of the bread, retain the bread top and hollow out the insides without piercing through the crust.
Step 7 - 🍲🍞🔝

Pour the clam mixture into the hollow of the bread, then place the bread top back on.
Step 8 - 🧈🥣🖌️

Combine melted butter, olive oil, and a dash of sea salt, then brush the mixture on the bread.
Step 9 - 🍞🔥⏲️

Bake the filled bread in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the loaf is golden and crispy. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Additional

This recipe is open to variations: for a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and add more veggies. For an Italian twist, add some chopped tomatoes and replace the thyme with basil. You can also reuse the bread taken from the loaf for breadcrumbs or croutons!