Looking for a fun, summer pizza dish that everyone will love?! Follow along as I make a white clam pizza, inspired by New Haven style pizza. I like to use fresh clams in the summer and it’s a great meal that also serves as a fun summer activity outside with the family!
White Clam Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 dozen fresh clams (clean and scrub before use)
- 1 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 28 oz pizza dough
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (1/4 for sauce, 1/4 for pizza topping)
- 1/4 cup of fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
Pizza Cooking Supplies:
Step 1: Prep Ingredients
Heat a large saucepan on medium-low heat, then wash & scrub littleneck clams, dice the onion and mince the garlic.
Step 2: Cook onion and garlic with butter & olive oil
Stir often to prevent burning, until the onions are soft and translucent.
Step 3: Stir in the wine & clams
Add in the white wine to the saucepan – pour a glass for yourself to enjoy – and bring to a simmer! Once the wine is simmering, add in the clams. I like to use tongs to prevent the hot liquid from splattering everywhere.
Step 4: Cook the clams!
Cover with the lid, and check periodically until you see the clams start to open up. I like using the Hexclad saucepan because it comes with a clear lid for greater visibility!
Step 5: Transfer cooked clams from heat
One by one, remove each opened clam from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Some may take longer to open than others! Note – not every clam will naturally open up and it is not advised to force them open; these should be discarded.
Wait until the shells are cooled, then remove the meat and chop into smaller pieces.
Step 6: Make the sauce!
Once all the clams have been removed, keep stirring the remaining white wine without the lid until it’s reduced.
Once reduced, add in the heavy cream and stir until it’s bubbling and the sauce turns into a rich tan color.
Next, add in your chopped clams and Parmesan cheese and stir until incorporated. Add in salt & pepper to taste, and voila! Let your sauce rest while you prep the dough.
Step 7: Assemble the pizza!
Flour a clean work surface, and stretch out your dough into any desired shape (I like to use store bought dough to make it easy and reduce the prep time, but you can make your own if you’d like). I just cut the dough into quarters to makek smaller pizzas that fit in the Ooni. (It’s also why they don’t look perfectly round here!)
Next, add a drizzle of olive oil and spread the sauce onto the dough.
Cheese time! Add on as much cheese as you’d like.
Once your pizza has been assembled, gently glide the pizza onto a generously floured pizza peel.
Step 8: Bake your pizza!
I love pulling out the Ooni pizza oven during the summer months – it’s definitely an investment but worth it in my opinion for the quality and taste! Feel free to bake in an oven with a pizza stone too.
Preheat your pizza oven for about 12-15 minutes until it hits at least 800 degrees F. I like to use this infrared thermometer to check the temperature.
Once the oven is preheated, use your peel to gently place the dough into the oven and keep a close eye as it cooks quickly!
Once the crust is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, remove the pizza and let cool on a wooden board.
Lastly, sprinkle parsley for garnish and your white clam pizza is ready to serve! Enjoy 🙂
