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Razor clams in garlic butter with rice

Razor clams in garlic butter with rice is a quick seafood dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, rated easy, for about €5.20 per person. The key to success is soaking the clams in salted water before cooking, then using a very hot pan so they open without turning rubbery.

Tonight, razor clams opened in a pan and drizzled with garlic parsley butter, served with white rice to soak up all the juice.

Razor clams in garlic butter with rice
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€5.20
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall

Razor clams have a mild, slightly briny flavor that pairs naturally with garlic parsley butter. Cooked in a hot pan, they pop open within minutes and release a flavorful liquid that mixes right into the white rice. It's a simple shellfish dish, no shells to crack open at the table, a nice change from mussels or clams.

This is a weeknight recipe for when you want something from the sea without any fuss, or a quiet Sunday dinner to switch things up. The rice on the side makes the meal filling and generous, and the garlic parsley butter can be made ahead to save time when you're ready to cook.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Razor clams 1.2 kg

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 80 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Flat leaf parsley 1 bunch
  • Lemon 1

Allergens Mollusks, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak the razor clams in salted water, then rinse them thoroughly.

    Stir the water occasionally, the sand settles to the bottom.

  2. Cook the rice in a large pot of salted water, then drain it. 11 min

    Keep it covered, it keeps swelling gently on its own.

  3. Make the garlic parsley butter by mixing softened butter with chopped garlic and parsley, a little pepper, and lemon juice.

    You can make it the day before, it keeps well in the fridge.

  4. Heat the oil in a large very hot pan, lay the clams flat and cover so they open. 3 min

    They're done as soon as they open, any longer and they turn rubbery.

  5. Add the garlic parsley butter off the heat, shake the pan, and serve the clams over the rice with their juices.

    Don't let the garlic butter boil, the garlic should stay raw and fragrant.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick razor clams that are tightly closed or that close when you touch them, a sign they're alive and fresh.
  • Use a wide pan so all the clams sit in a single layer and open at the same time.
  • Chop the parsley and garlic very finely so the butter melts evenly over the hot clams.

The variations

  • Swap the razor clams for clams or mussels if you can't find them, the cooking method and garlic butter work the same way.
  • For a shellfish free version, make the same recipe with pan seared white fish fillets topped with the same garlic parsley butter.
  • To save time, make the garlic parsley butter the day before and cook the rice while the clams are soaking.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of dry white wine
  • Fresh bread for the juices
  • A simple green salad

Storage

Cooked razor clams keep for 1 day in the refrigerator in a sealed container, best eaten quickly since cooked shellfish doesn't keep long. They don't freeze well once cooked. Reheat gently in a pan without boiling, so they don't turn rubbery.

Questions about this dish

How do you know if razor clams are fresh?

A fresh razor clam is closed or closes when touched. If one stays open and doesn't react, set it aside before cooking.

Can you make the garlic parsley butter ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Make the butter the day before and keep it in the fridge, it softens easily when you need it.

Why do you need to soak razor clams before cooking?

Razor clams live in sand and often keep some inside their shells. Two hours in very salty water makes them open slightly and release that sand before cooking.

Can you serve something other than rice with this dish?

Yes, pasta or steamed potatoes work just as well to soak up the juices and garlic parsley butter from the clams.

How long does it take to make razor clams in garlic butter with rice?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in razor clams in garlic butter with rice?

About 570 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does razor clams in garlic butter with rice cost?

About €5.20 per serving, or €20.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains mollusks, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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