Portuguese Clam Stew with Garlic Croutons

Ingredients

2 cups quartered new potatoes, cooked
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound chorizo sausage, about 4 links, each link cut into 3 to 4 slices
2/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 cups potatoes, medium-dice
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups shrimp stock
4 dozen Littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped Italian plum tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons Essence
3/4 cup roasted garlic aioli
12 slices crusty bread (about 2 to 3 inches in diameter)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

Preheat oven 375 degrees. In a sauté pan, heat the olive oil. When the pan is smoking hot, add the chorizo. Brown the sausage for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onions, cilantro, garlic, shallots, potatoes, salt, crushed red pepper, black pepper and shrimp stock. Bring to a boil. Add the clams, tomatoes, green onions and Essence. Cover the sauté pan and cook over high heat until all the clams are open, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. For the croutons: Spread the 1 tablespoon of aioli over each slice of bread. Bake for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Place the stew in a shallow bowl and serve with the croutons. Garnish with the chopped parsley.

Yield: 4 servings