When we can find them, we like use Manila little neck clams, also known as Japanese little neck clams. We find that as the clams get much bigger than moderate sized cherrystones, the meat can become tougher, and it is not as flavorful. We like to use the largest little neck clams that we can find or some of the smaller cherrystone clams. Cherrystone clams are the same species and are the next largest in size. Little neck clams are the smallest of the quahog clam species.

Traditionally this New England clam recipe is made with little neck clams. What are the Best Clams for Making Clams Casino? Manila Clams A lot of the prep can also be done ahead of time which makes for a great appetizer on the grill so you can focus your time on the main dish. These Grilled Clams Casino are super easy to make and only require a few ingredients. We then cook the clams on the grill, for a perfect grilled seafood appetizer. For our version we use panko bread crumbs which hold there crunch better than standard breadcrumbs and use hot Peppadew peppers to add a little spice to the dish. While there can be variations, this dish typically consists of clams on the half shell, topped with bacon, red peppers and breadcrumbs, and then baked.