Fried Clam Strips Recipe (Friendly's Copycat) - Recipes.net (2024)

Fried Clam Strips Recipe (Friendly's Copycat) - Recipes.net (1)

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The perfect entree needs to be simple but tasty enough to excite you for the next course. What better way to start off dinner than with a plate of fried clam strips? Our recipe for fried clams undeniably tastes just like Friendly’s scrumptious platter. We’ve got it all right, down to its crunchy batter and golden brown color. We’ll teach you how to make this tasty finger food in less than an hour.

In this fried clam strips recipe, we’ll be coating clam strips in a tasty batter and deep-frying them in batches. This yummy fried seafood works perfectly with different sauces, but we definitely recommend pairing it with our healthy horseradish sauce.

What’s in Friendly’s Clam Strips Platter

Let’s not forget to pay homage to the restaurant that inspired this recipe. Friendly’s fried clam strips platter is one of their best-selling entrees. It gets even better when paired with an equally delicious mound of potato fries and their signature tartar sauce. The tanginess from the tartar sauce is there to balance out the taste of the dish. Friendly’s clam strips come in a huge platter that’s perfect for sharing. We adore this platter so much that we’ve made a copycat recipe just for you.

What Pairs Well With Fried Clam Strips

It’s no secret that Friendly’s clam strips are served with crispy but soft on the inside potato fries. We have a copycat recipe for Steak and Shake’s French Fries that works well with that. But it’s not only fries that go well with these fried clam strips. You can also pair it up with Bubba Gump’s fried shrimp. Now those sound like perfect starters for your big meal!

You can’t go wrong with a batch of fried clam strips. You can serve them as entrees for lunch and dinner or as crunchy snacks. Try out our easy fried clam strips recipe with your favorite dipping sauces and sides today!

How To Make Fried Clam Strips (Friendly’s Copycat)

Get a taste of Friendly’s crunchy fried clam strips with this copycat recipe for the perfect snack or appetizer! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces and sides.

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 35 mins

Serves:

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • 2 lb clam strips
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • ½ tsp celery salt
  • ½ tsp cayenne
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Start by heating the canola oil in a pot over moderate heat until it reaches 380 degrees F.

  2. While the oil is being heated, rinse and drain the clam strips in a colander.

  3. Stir the clam strips together with buttermilk in a large bowl.

  4. Drain the clam strips well in a colander. Let them set over a bowl for at least 5 minutes.

  5. In another bowl stir together the cornstarch, cornmeal, flour, curry powder, celery salt, cayenne, and salt.

  6. Dredge a handful of drained clams in the flour mixture then shake in a large sieve to remove excess flour.

  7. Transfer the clams one by one in a baking sheet and then shake them again to remove any excess flour mixture.

  8. Fry the coated clams until they're crisp and golden for about 1 ½ minutes. Then, transfer them onto some paper towels with a slotted spoon for draining. Afterward, sprinkle them with salt to taste.

  9. Serve with some potato fries and your desired dipping sauce, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • Always return the oil to 380 degrees F between batches to properly cook the strips.
  • The perfect contrast to balance out the flavors of your clam strips is a sour, vinegar-like dip. Try it with the aforementioned tartar sauce or our balsamic vinegar bbq sauce.

Nutrition

  • Sugar: 2g
  • :
  • Calcium: 44mg
  • Calories: 153kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 8mg
  • Fat: 2g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Iron: 1mg
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Potassium: 93mg
  • Protein: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Sodium: 427mg
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Vitamin A: 155IU
  • Vitamin C: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer

Have you tried making these Fried Clam Strips at home? Share your experience and any tips you may have in the Recipe Sharing forum!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are fried clam strips made of?

Clam strips are often made from large surf clams commonly known as the Atlantic Surf Clam. You can easily buy them already cut in strips at the grocery or fresh at the farmer’s market. If you’re buying whole clams, remember that for this recipe you’d only be needing the clam strip, which is the loose hanging piece under its belly.

Can I air-fry my clam strips instead?

Yes, you can easily make air fryer clam strips if you wish to cook them in less oil. To do this, place your battered clam strips in the air fryer basket. Cook them for 5 to 6 minutes. Now to cook them evenly, take them out every 2 minutes, and shake the basket halfway through to make sure they turn crispy and golden brown.

Are fried clam strips good for you?

Fried clams are a good source of protein. They also contain a good amount of vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids and promote sexual health. So we can definitely say that this tasty appetizer is a great addition to your diet.

How do I reheat my leftover fried clams?

The best way to reheat fried clam strips is in the oven at 350 degrees F. Place them on a broiler pan and reheat them for 10 to 15 minutes. This also helps in draining the excess oil from your fried dish. You can also reheat fried clams in the air fryer by cooking them at 350 to 400 degrees F for 3 to 4 minutes, checking them every 1 to 2 minutes until they’re warm and crispy. Doing so helps avoid overcooking the seafood and ensures a yummy crispy coating.

Fried Clam Strips Recipe (Friendly's Copycat) - Recipes.net (2)

Conclusion

This unique and tasty take on fried clam strips will surely have you making them more than once. They’re well-seasoned and perfectly bite-sized like fries for your snacking or entree. Try them out with your favorite dipping sauce and taste the difference!

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Fried Clam Strips Recipe (Friendly's Copycat) - Recipes.net (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between fried clams and fried clam strips? ›

One of the main differences between fried clam strips and fried clam bellies is the texture. Fried clam bellies are more tender and succulent than strips, which are typically firmer and chewier. This makes fried clam bellies a popular choice for people who prefer a more luxurious and satisfying seafood experience.

What kind of clams are in clam strips? ›

On the other hand, clam strips are made from hard-shell clams, also known as surf clams, which are larger (more like 4–7 inches instead of the 2–3 inches of a soft-shell clam) and live a little deeper out in the ocean than soft-shell clams do.

Which part of the surf clam is typically used to make breaded clam strips? ›

The meat of the clam is used as 'strips', chowder, and sushi. The "tongue" or foot of the clam is commercially valuable because it is cut into long strips which are breaded and fried and served as clam strips, first popularized by the Howard Johnson's franchise.

What is special about Ipswich clams? ›

At its finest, an Ipswich fried clam, whatever its provenance, is a meltingly tender soft-shell clam body surrounded, belly and all, by a crumb coating that, when deep-fried (preferably in lard), becomes a salty, crunchy-crisp casing for the soft and sweetly briny clam inside. The combination is irresistible.

What makes fried clams rubbery? ›

Overcooked clams typically get rubbery (same goes for squid). There's a give and take. Canned clams are already overcooked just from canning so they'll be rubbery to start. But if you cook them long enough they'll actually go tender again, same with squid.

Why are fried clams so expensive now? ›

Prices across many food markets have swelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, labor shortages, destructive red tides, extreme weather and more. Soft-shell clams are especially at risk when the climate changes rapidly, researchers say.

Are clam strips high in mercury? ›

Clams are a good source of zinc and contain omega-3 fatty acids. Clams are low in mercury. Clams are filter-feeders and thus are vulnerable to bacterial pollution, chemical contamination, and harmful algal blooms (red tide), especially spring through fall.

What are the ingredients in seapak clam strips? ›

INGREDIENTS:ATLANTIC SURF CLAMS AND/OR co*ckLE CLAMS (MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF SHELLFISH AND FISH), WHEAT FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, TAPIOCA AND RICE STARCH, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA), SUGAR, POWDERED WHEY, MILK ...

Are fried clams good for you? ›

Clams are popular shellfish that have a high nutritional density and are high in vitamins and minerals. Whether steamed, fried, or grilled, clams are a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet.

What do you eat with fried clam strips? ›

Lemon wedges are a must, and many reach for either tartar sauce — “tah-tah sahss,” as mum pronounces it — or ketchup. (My mom's tartar sauce recipe is here.) I like just lemon, then maybe a dash of hot sauce after I've eaten 20 or 30 clams.

How long do you cook breaded clam strips? ›

How to cook breaded clam strips
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Arrange the frozen clam strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  3. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking.

What is the most delicious clam in the world? ›

Geoduck is the most delicious clam in the world.

What is the most expensive clam to eat? ›

These are geoducks, a large and elusive burrowing clam species. The clams grow in few parts of the world, making them a highly coveted and expensive delicacy in seafood restaurants around the globe.

Which clams taste best? ›

Littleneck clams are the smallest and sweetest available, great raw on the half shell or steamed. Topneck clams can also be eaten raw, and these are my favorite size for baked clams. Cherrystone clams are usually not eaten raw, they're not tough really, just too much of a mouthful for most people.

What are fried clam strips made of? ›

The clams are dipped in evaporated milk, then coated with some combination of regular, corn, and pastry flour. The coated clams are fried in canola oil, soybean oil, or lard.

Are clam strips real clams? ›

Adam Geringer-Dunn of Greenpoint Fish and Lobster in Brooklynn, New York, says, "Clam strips are made from large surf clams, shucked, pounded flat, and cut into strips."

Are clam strips made from clams? ›

They are made exclusively from the tongue of the Atlantic Surf Clam. The clams are shucked, washed and sliced into strips.

What is breaded clam strips? ›

The Perfect Seafood

ICYBAY breaded clam strips are processed from machine shucked clams, mechanically breaded and flash frozen. ICYBAY breaded clam strips offer a premium quality eating experience with best-in-class breading-to- meat ratio. Light taste, tender meat.

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