The Ultimate Guide To Clam Varieties - Daily Meal

Ocean quahogs are bivalve mollusks with dense, oval-shaped shells found in the waters of the western Atlantic as far south as Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. With a lifespan of at least 200 years, they are some of the longest-lived marine organisms, and their age can be determined by counting their growth rings. Quahogs have multiple names depending on their size: Little necks are the smallest, cherrystones are larger than top necks, and quahogs are the biggest of the type.

Quahogs are a quintessential part of Rhode Island cuisine, featured in various soups and stews. Visit George's of Galilee for its famous quahog chowder and try the baked "stuffies" too — a traditional dish you don't want to miss. The latter involves stuffing quahog shells with ground quahog meat, bread crumbs, onion, green pepper, celery, garlic, parsley, and thyme. While recipes may vary, it's a mouth-watering treat.

To prepare quahogs for a casual meal, merely soak them in cold water to clean them, then steam them until the shells open. Once ready, simply dip the tender, succulent meat into the buttery sauce and enjoy the freshness of the ocean. Or, of course, you could make an Italian feast with clam linguine.