- 24 medium littleneck clams, scrubbed
- 3 cups kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 medium red onion, cut into 1/8-inch dice
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/8-inch dice
- 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- Carefully open the clams, discarding the top shells, and drain the clam liquid into a small mixing bowl. Set aside. Loosen the clams from the bottom shells but do not remove them. Pour the salt onto a baking sheet so that it is at least 1/2-inch deep and arrange the clams in their half-shells in the salt.
- In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat until smoking. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook 6 to 7 minutes, until softened and light golden brown. Add the bread crumbs and continue cooking another 3 minutes, until they are light golden brown as well. Remove the mixture from the heat, season with salt and pepper, and cool. Stir in the oregano and the reserved clam liquid.
- Preheat the broiler. Pack about 2 teaspoons of the crumb mixture loosely into each clam shell. (Remember that the clam, not the stuffing, is the most important part of this dish; stuffing should surround and enhance the clam, not overpower it.)
- Place the clams under the broiler and heat through, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, just until the crumb mixture is deep golden brown; you're not really cooking the clam. Drizzle with a drop of olive oil, and serve.