Clam

Cockle, carpet clam or vongole

Clam

Cockle, carpet clam or vongole

SPECIES: Venerida

BEST TIME TO CATCH: May to August, or frozen in the same quality all year round

PREPARATION: Steamed in a pot

SPECIES: Venus clams belong to the Veneridae family and are related to various other types of clams such as cockles, carpet clams, oysters, shellfish or trough clams.

RECIPE SUGGESTION: Perfect for mediterranean dishes like Spaghetti Vongole

TASTE:

Compared to the equally popular mussels, clams offer a more subtle and elegant taste. The clams have a delicately sweet note that highlights their natural sea flavors. This harmonious interaction makes the taste of clams an outstanding culinary delight that many gourmet lovers appreciate.

The clam, a maritime delicacy of the temperate to subtropical seas, enchants with its unique shape and delicious taste. Its flat, oval shell shimmers in reddish-brown to dark brown tones, decorated with concentric stripes and gentle ridges. The shells can be up to 15 centimeters long, and the color of the delicate mussel meat varies depending on the species and habitat.

These mussels belong to the family Veneridae and belong to the order Venerida. They are extremely diverse, with over 400 species and twelve subfamilies, most of which are edible.Venusmuscheln are found in coastal waters worldwide, primarily in sandy substrates, with a preference for warmer seas.

Clams are native to shallow coastal waters, where they are adept at burrowing into sand or muddy bottom. Their ability to filter food from water makes them an important part of the marine food web. This impressive spectacle stretches across the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and other seas.

Their characteristic flat, oval shell often features a slightly curled swirl in front of the center, similar to a cap. The concentric ribs or grooves on the shell are also characteristic. Unlike their cockle relatives, clams are radially ribbed, except for their European relative Timoclea ovata.

Clams feed by filtering water, filtering out plankton and tiny particles. This activity contributes to the cleaning of the sea and the balance of the food web.

Clam in detail

Cold feet?

Yes, indeed. The clam has a foot. If the clam finds itself in a dangerous situation, it can stick its foot out between the shell halves and quickly bury itself in the sand.

Cold feet?

Yes, indeed. The clam has a foot. If the clam finds itself in a dangerous situation, it can stick its foot out between the shell halves and quickly bury itself in the sand.

Fun fact:

The naming of the clams is closely linked to the goddess Venus, who represents love and beauty in ancient mythology. The mussels get their name because of their slightly heart-shaped shape. According to legend, the goddess Venus was born from the sea foam that rose from an opened clam shell.

Today, clams are present in coastal waters worldwide, linking their original mythological significance to their global presence.