cooking.nytimes.com

A pot full of garlicky steamed clams needs nothing more than some crusty bread – or even just a spoon – to accompany it. In this version, tarragon and chives add a bracing freshness to the clams while lime juice and zest brighten things up. Take your time when cleaning the clams; they need a good scrubbing under running water to remove all the sand and grit. If you do find grit in the sauce after cooking, either strain it through a sieve lined with a dish towel, or let it settle to the bottom of the pot and spoon the sauce off the top. This recipe also works with mussels if you add 1/4 cup water to the pot along with the shellfish.