Stove Top Smoker Smoked Clams on the Half Shell With Casino Butt

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until crisp, and finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons minced roasted red peppers
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 24 littleneck clams, on the half shell smoked
• 1 tablespoon wood chips

Directions

1. 1

   To make the casino butter, beat the butter, bacon, red pepper, parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and black pepper together in a small bowl. The butter can be prepared up to three days in advance and refrigerated or frozen up to 1 month. Bring the butter to room temperature about 1 hour before smoking the clams. The butter should be very soft so it melts easily when spooned on the clams.

2. 2

   Line the bottom of a 9 x 11-inch aluminum foil tray with an even 1/2-inch layer of rock salt.

3. 3

   Nestle the clams on their half shells into the salt to keep them level during smoking.

4. 4

   Set up the smoker using the wood chips and smoke the clams over medium heat until they are cooked through and tinged with brown, about 12 minutes, after closing the top.

5. 5

   Remove the smoker lid and drop about 1/2 teaspoon of the butter onto each clam. Let them.

6. 6

   sit a minute until the butter starts to melt, then transfer them carefully to serving plates or a warm platter. Serve immediately.