Down East Clam Bake

Prep: 15 min Cook: 60 min Serves: 4 Cuisine: American

A traditional Down East clam bake featuring fresh clams, sweet potatoes, corn, and seafood, perfect for outdoor gatherings and summer feasts with rich, oceanic flavors.

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Ingredients

  • 1 dozen cherrystone clams
  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1 Irish potato
  • 1 onion
  • 1 chicken breast
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 ear of corn
  • 2 cups water
  • salt and pepper
  • shrimp

Instructions

  1. Wash and scrub the cherrystone clams until clean and grit-free.
  2. Place the clams in their shells on the bottom of a large steamer or canning pot.
  3. Pour in 2 cups of water into the pot.
  4. Add sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, onions, chicken breasts, carrots, and ears of corn in the order given.
  5. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
  6. Reduce heat but maintain the boil and steam and cook the ingredients for about 1 hour.
  7. Check if the sweet potato is tender; if so, the food is done.
  8. Add shrimp during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  9. Watch to ensure that the water does not cook out completely.
  10. To serve, place the pot in the middle of the table.
  11. Arrange each ingredient on individual plates and let clam lovers remove clams and broth as desired.
  12. Crusty corn bread pairs well with the clam bake.

Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)

323 kcal 16% DV
Protein Fat Carbs

Macronutrients

Protein 14.2g 28% DV
Total Fat 9.5g 12% DV
Carbs 56.4g 20% DV
Fiber 27.1g 97% DV
Sugar 12.6g 25% DV

Electrolytes

Sodium 10063.8mg 100% DV
Potassium 823mg 18% DV
Cholesterol 47.5mg 16% DV

Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin A 876.3mcg 97% DV
Vitamin C 5.1mg 6% DV
Vitamin D 0.1mcg 1% DV
Calcium 105.8mg 8% DV
Iron 2.4mg 13% DV
Diet fit High-fiber Under 400 cal Low-fat
Contains Shellfish

Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.

* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).

Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).

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