Ina Garten’s Sunny Summer Skillet Recipe: Clams, Sausage & Corn

Ina Garten’s summer skillet bursts with vibrant flavors that capture coastal culinary magic.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients dance together in a single pan, creating an irresistible symphony of textures and tastes.

Fresh seasonal produce transforms this dish into a mouthwatering masterpiece that feels both rustic and elegant.

Layers of rich proteins and sweet vegetables promise a dining experience that celebrates summer’s abundant harvest.

Complex yet uncomplicated, this skillet method simplifies gourmet cooking without sacrificing remarkable depth of flavor.

Professional home cooks understand the art of balancing ingredients to create something extraordinary from simple components.

Each bite tells a story of sunshine, ocean breezes, and relaxed entertaining: savor every moment.

What Makes the Summer Skillet with Clams Unmissable

• Burst with Seasonal Summer Flavors: This skillet combines fresh corn, ripe tomatoes, and briny clams that capture the essence of summer's most vibrant ingredients, creating a dish that feels like a beachside celebration on your plate.
• One-Pan Wonder of Simplicity: The recipe eliminates multiple cooking steps by using a single cast iron skillet, making cleanup a breeze and allowing home cooks to prepare a restaurant-quality meal without complex techniques or excessive kitchen tools.
• Quick and Hearty Weeknight Feast: From start to finish, this recipe takes just about 30 minutes to prepare, offering a satisfying meal packed with protein from sausage and clams that feels indulgent yet comes together incredibly fast for busy families or spontaneous dinner gatherings.
• Versatile Entertaining Showstopper: The visually appealing presentation with clams nestled in a colorful vegetable base makes this dish perfect for impressing guests at casual dinner parties or summer gatherings, transforming a simple skillet meal into an elegant dining experience.

All About Ina’s Clams, Sausage & Corn Skillet

• Clams: Fresh, briny seafood that brings oceanic flavor and provides the main protein highlight.
• Sausage: Robust meat that adds rich, spicy depth and creates a hearty base for the dish.

• Onion, Red Pepper Flakes: Aromatic base that provides warmth and gentle spice to the overall dish.
• Corn, Tomatoes: Sweet summer vegetables that contribute fresh, bright flavors and colorful texture.

• Olive Oil: High-quality oil for sautéing and creating smooth cooking foundation.
• White Wine: Adds complex acidic notes and helps steam the clams.
• Butter: Provides rich, smooth finish and helps create silky sauce.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Classic seasonings for balanced and enhanced flavor profile.
• Fresh Basil: Bright herb for fresh garnish and aromatic finish.

Cook Up the Summer Skillet Feast

Step 1: Prepare the Onion Saute

Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Gently cook onions until they become soft and translucent, stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Add sausage to the skillet, breaking it into bite-sized chunks. Cook until the meat turns golden and loses its pink color, about 6-8 minutes.

Step 3: Introduce Vibrant Vegetables and Spices

• Fresh corn kernels
• Chopped tomatoes
• Red pepper flakes
• Salt
• Black pepper

Sauté the mixture for 3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.

Step 4: Splash in Wine and Butter

Pour white wine into the skillet. Dot the surface with butter pieces, letting them slowly melt and create a rich sauce.

Step 5: Nestle the Clams

Carefully arrange clams into the vegetable and sausage mixture, positioning their hinged sides downward in tight circles.

Step 6: Steam the Seafood

Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 8-12 minutes. Wait until all clams open completely.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Transfer the skillet contents into shallow serving bowls. Sprinkle freshly chopped basil on top. Serve immediately with crusty French bread for dipping.

Tips to Nail This Skillet Combo

• Select Premium Clams: Choose fresh, high-quality littleneck clams from a reputable seafood market for the most delicious results.
• Master Sausage Preparation: Carefully remove the casings to create loose, flavorful meat that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
• Caramelize Onions Gently: Slow-cook onions over medium-low heat to unlock their natural sweetness and build a rich flavor base.
• Position Clams Strategically: Arrange clams with their hinged side down in a tight circular pattern to ensure even cooking and maximum juice release.
• Pair with Crusty Bread: Grab a fresh, crusty French baguette to soak up every last drop of the mouthwatering broth.

Keep Leftovers from the Summer Skillet Fresh

• Cool Completely: Allow the skillet dish to reach room temperature within 2 hours after cooking, preventing bacterial growth and maintaining ingredient quality.
• Seal Tightly: Transfer the mixture into a glass or ceramic container with an airtight lid, ensuring no air exposure that could cause rapid spoilage of delicate seafood and sausage components.
• Consume Quickly: Enjoy refrigerated leftovers within 1-2 days for optimal flavor and texture, as clams and corn lose their fresh taste and tender consistency when stored longer.

Flavor Mix-Ups for the Summer Skillet

• Spicy Seafood Medley: Replace clams with a mix of shrimp, mussels, and scallops for a vibrant ocean-inspired dish. Kick up the heat with extra red pepper flakes or add diced jalapeños for more punch.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Swap Italian sausage for chorizo and incorporate fresh oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Use white wine from Spain or Greece to enhance the regional flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Summer Skillet: Substitute sausage with plant-based alternatives like smoked tofu or tempeh. Add zucchini, bell peppers, and chickpeas for protein and texture. Use vegetable broth instead of wine for depth.
• Coastal Southern Remix: Use andouille sausage for a Louisiana-style approach. Include okra and swap basil for fresh parsley. Serve with cornbread instead of French bread to capture southern comfort.

Farewell Notes on Clams & Corn Skillet

Coastal summer memories dance across this Ina Garten skillet masterpiece, blending Mediterranean charm with rustic American flair.

Sausage and clams create a symphony of flavors that whisper coastal elegance and seasonal abundance.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients collaborate in a harmonious culinary performance that celebrates summer’s bounty.

Complex layers of texture and taste intertwine, delivering a sensory experience beyond simple meal preparation.

When plated with fresh basil and crusty French bread, this dish becomes an irresistible invitation to savor summer’s delicious narrative – share this recipe, comment below, and spread the culinary joy with fellow passionate epicureans.

Ina Garten Summer Skillet With Clams, Sausage & Corn Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Summer skillet sensations come alive with Ina Garten’s irresistible coastal dish combining succulent clams, spicy sausage, and sweet corn. Hearty ingredients meld into a Mediterranean-inspired feast that whisks you to seaside relaxation with one delicious bite.

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Ingredients

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Primary Protein and Seafood:

• 0.75 pounds (340 grams) sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 32 fresh littleneck clams, scrubbed

Vegetables and Produce:

• 1.5 cups (240 grams) small-diced yellow onion (1 large)
• 3 cups (450 grams) fresh corn kernels, cut off the cob (4 to 5 ears)
• 1 pound (450 grams) vine-ripened tomatoes, 0.5-inch diced
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) julienned fresh basil leaves

Seasonings, Liquids, and Accompaniments:

• 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter, large-diced
• French bread, for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare the onion base by heating of olive oil in a large 12-inch (30-centimeter) cast iron skillet over medium heat. Gently sauté the chopped onions for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring intermittently until they become translucent and soft.
2. Introduce the sausage into the skillet, methodically breaking it into bite-sized morsels. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, ensuring the meat loses its pink color and develops a golden-brown exterior.
3. Enhance the mixture by incorporating corn kernels, diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Sauté the ingredients together for approximately 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
4. Deglaze the skillet by pouring in white wine, then strategically distribute pats of butter across the surface, creating a rich, glossy foundation for the seafood.
5. Carefully arrange fresh clams into the vegetable and sausage mixture, positioning their hinged sides downward in tight concentric circles for even cooking.
6. Elevate the heat to trigger a boil, then immediately cover the skillet, reduce temperature, and allow the clams to steam for 8 to 12 minutes until their shells dramatically open, signaling perfect doneness.
7. Serve the aromatic dish by ladling the contents into shallow bowls, garnishing with fresh basil leaves, and accompanying with crusty French bread for a complete culinary experience.

Notes

• Forage Fresh Clams: Seek out pristine littleneck clams from local seafood markets, ensuring they’re clean and free from sand or debris before transforming them into a mouthwatering meal.
• Strip Sausage Naturally: Carefully peel away the casing to reveal the tender meat inside, allowing it to crumble and intermingle with the other ingredients, creating a rich, complex flavor profile.
• Caramelize Onions Slowly: Coax out the sweet, deep notes of the onions by gently cooking them over a low flame, letting their natural sugars develop and intensify the overall taste of the dish.
• Position Clams Strategically: Nestle the clams in a tight, circular formation with their hinged sides facing downward, encouraging them to open gracefully and release their briny essence into the bubbling skillet.
• Pair with Crusty Bread: Elevate the dining experience by serving the dish piping hot alongside a rustic, freshly baked loaf perfect for soaking up every last drop of the luxurious, flavor-packed broth.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 of 4 servings
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 900mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 35g
• Cholesterol: 90mg