Best Clam Pizza Recipe

Step 1

Make the broccoli rabe: In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic until fragrant, 3 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until it's tender, 5 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a cutting board and roughly chop, then set aside.

Step 2

Make the clam topping: Rinse the clams to wash off sand and debris. Soak for 30 minutes in salted water to allow the clams to purge any excess sand, then strain and rinse again.

Step 3

In a large rondeau, add the olive oil and sweat the garlic, shallots, parsley stem and thyme over medium heat until translucent, 5 minutes. Add the white wine and the clams, stirring to coat. Cover the pan and allow the clams to steam until they open, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the clams to a bowl, reserving the cooking liquid. Return the pan to medium heat and reduce the liquid until syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and let cool completely.

Step 4

Once cool enough to handle, remove the clam meat from the shells and roughly chop, discarding the shells.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks, then stream in the reduced clam liquid and adjust for seasoning. Continue to whip the cream to medium peaks.

Step 6

Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500º with a pizza stone on the middle rack. On a lightly floured surface, spread 1 ball of the pizza dough out into a 12-inch circle. Spread a quarter of the cream in a thin layer, leaving a 2-inch border around the surface of the dough. Top with a quarter of the chopped clams and broccoli rabe, 1 tablespoon of the chopped parsley and chile flakes. Transfer the pizza to the hot pizza stone until crisp and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, slice and serve with lemon wedges. Repeat with the remaining 3 balls of pizza dough.