Clams, with their delicate brininess and tender texture, make for a delicious and versatile seafood option. While they are fantastic on their own, pairing them with a flavorful sauce can take your clam dishes to new heights. Whether you’re planning a clam bake, a seafood pasta dish, or simply enjoying a plate of steamed clams, these 15 sauces will add an extra burst of flavor!
These are some of my favorite sauces to serve with clams.
Why?
They’re made with simple ingredients. Plus, they come together so quickly!
Keep reading to discover a new favorite clam dipping sauce. Add in a couple side dishes, and you’re guaranteed an amazing dinner!
Clam Sauce Recipes
Classic Garlic Butter Sauce: A timeless favorite, garlic butter sauce complements clams perfectly. The rich buttery taste, combined with the aromatic garlic, enhances the natural sweetness of the clams.
Get the RECIPE from Damn Delicious
Lemon and Herb Sauce: Brighten up your clams with a tangy and refreshing lemon and herb sauce. The zesty citrus notes paired with a medley of fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and dill, create a delightful combination that enhances the briny flavors of the clams.
Get the RECIPE from Fork Knife Swoon
Seafood Boil Sauce: Learn how to make Seafood Boil Sauce from scratch! It’s a rich and layered butter sauce that’s perfect for Southern seafood boils and for sprucing up your usual weeknight dinner. Easy to make in 20 minutes!
Get the RECIPE
Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce: Indulge in a creamy and tangy Dijon mustard sauce to elevate your clam dishes. The smooth texture and robust flavor of Dijon mustard, combined with cream, create a luxurious sauce that balances perfectly with the brininess of the clams.
Get the RECIPE from Anything Goes Lifestyle
Spicy Diavolo Sauce: If you crave a kick of heat, opt for diavolo sauce. This fiery tomato-based sauce, infused with garlic, chili flakes, and herbs, adds a bold and vibrant flavor to your clams, creating a tantalizing combination of spice and brininess.
Get the RECIPE
White Wine and Shallot Sauce: For an elegant and sophisticated twist, simmer clams in a white wine and shallot sauce. The wine adds depth and complexity, while the shallots impart a subtle sweetness, resulting in a sauce that perfectly complements the delicate flavor of the clams.
Get the RECIPE from Little Ferraro Kitchen
Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Sauce: Transport your taste buds to the exotic flavors of Thailand with a creamy coconut curry sauce. The aromatic blend of coconut milk, red curry paste, lemongrass, and lime creates a luscious sauce that pairs exceptionally well with clams.
Get the RECIPE from Savory Sweet Life
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Saffron Tomato Sauce: Indulge in a taste of luxury with a saffron-infused tomato sauce. The distinct earthy flavor of saffron combined with the richness of tomatoes creates a sauce that beautifully enhances the sweetness of the clams, leaving you with a truly special dish.
Get the RECIPE from Food and Wine
Chimichurri Sauce: For a burst of vibrant herbaceous flavors, serve your clams with a zesty chimichurri sauce. This Argentinean condiment made with parsley, cilantro, garlic, vinegar, and olive oil adds a refreshing and tangy element to the briny clams.
Get the RECIPE
Pesto Genovese Sauce: Transport your clams to the Italian Riviera with a classic pesto Genovese sauce. The combination of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil creates a vibrant and aromatic sauce that brings out the best in the clams.
Get the RECIPE from DIY n Crafts
Smoky Chipotle Sauce: Add a touch of smoky heat to your clams with a chipotle sauce. This fiery sauce, made from smoky chipotle peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spices, imparts a distinctive flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the clams.
Get the RECIPE
Romesco Sauce: Originating from Catalonia, Spain, Romesco sauce is a savory blend of roasted red peppers, almonds, garlic, and olive oil. Its rich and nutty flavor profile adds depth and complexity to the clams, creating a delightful fusion of tastes.
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Cilantro Lime Sauce: Capture the bright and vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine with a cilantro lime sauce. The combination of zesty lime juice, fresh cilantro, garlic, and a touch of heat creates a tangy and refreshing sauce that pairs wonderfully with clams.
Get the RECIPE
Marinara Sauce: Easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce offers rich and sweet flavors that can be enjoyed on plenty of dishes. Using basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
Get the RECIPE
Cocktail Sauce: This easy Cocktail Sauce recipe is a zesty and tangy dipping sauce that’s perfect for clams, prawn cocktails, po’ boys, and crab cakes.
Get the RECIPE
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these sauce recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Seafood Sauce Recipes
- Sauces for Shrimp
- Sauces for Calamari
- Sauces for Mussels
- Sauces for Fried Fish
- Sauces for Fish
- Sauces for Lobster
- Sauces for Salmon
- Sauces for Sushi
- Sauces for Coconut Shrimp
Did you Make Any of These Sauces?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of sauces for clams. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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15+ BEST Sauces for Clams
Wondering what the best sauces for clams are? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 15+ tasty clam dipping sauces. Try this Diavolo Sauce. An easy and spicy marinara sauce made with flavor-forward ingredients, like tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and red pepper flakes.
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Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (plus more, to taste)
- 6 large cloves garlic (minced, divided(about 3 TBSP))
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 28- ounce can petite diced tomatoes (drained)
- 1 cup dry white wine (or vermouth)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (minced)
- Salt (to taste)
For Serving:
- 1 pound spaghetti (cooked, pasta cooking liquid reserved)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Once hot, add half of the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is light golden, about 7-10 minutes.
- Add red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, sugar, tomatoes and wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer until thickened, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining garlic and parsley.
- If desired, add spaghetti and toss to combine, adding pasta cooking liquid if needed to loosen the sauce.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Large Skillet
Knife
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3mg
