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Instant Pot Clams with Brothy Rice

By Nicole Konstantinakos

Published on May 18, 2022

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4

Instant Pot Clams with Brothy Rice

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 leek, ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, sliced 1 inch thick, and washed thoroughly1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine1½ cups Arborio rice 3 garlic cloves, minced½ cup dry white wine 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed1 cup frozen peas, thawed1 cup jarred whole baby artichoke hearts packed in water, quartered, rinsed, and patted dry½ cup Salsa Verde

Before You Begin

Arborio rice, which is high in starch, gives this dish its characteristic creaminess; do not substitute other types of rice. While we prefer the flavor and texture of jarred whole baby artichoke hearts, you can substitute 6 ounces frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and patted dry. Discard any raw clams with an unpleasant odor or with a cracked or broken shell that won't close.

Instructions

  1.  Using highest sauté function, heat oil in Instant Pot until shimmering. Add leek and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in rice and garlic and cook until grains are translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Stir in wine and cook until nearly evaporated, about 1 minute.
  2.  Stir in 3 cups broth, scraping up any rice that sticks to bottom of pot, then nestle clams into rice mixture. Lock lid in place and close pressure release valve. Select high pressure cook function and cook for 1 minute.
  3.  Turn off Instant Pot and quick-release pressure. Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you. Using tongs, transfer clams to bowl, discarding any that have not opened, and cover to keep warm.
  4.  Stir remaining 2 cups broth, peas, and artichokes into rice and cook, using highest sauté function, until heated through, about 3 minutes. (Mixture will be loose.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide rice mixture between individual serving bowls and top with clams. Serve, passing Salsa Verde separately.
Instant Pot Clams with Brothy Rice
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Instant Pot Clams with Brothy Rice

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Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, sliced 1 inch thick, and washed thoroughly
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1½ cups Arborio rice
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup dry white wine
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup jarred whole baby artichoke hearts packed in water, quartered, rinsed, and patted dry
½ cup Salsa Verde

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, sliced 1 inch thick, and washed thoroughly
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1½ cups Arborio rice
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup dry white wine
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup jarred whole baby artichoke hearts packed in water, quartered, rinsed, and patted dry
½ cup Salsa Verde

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, sliced 1 inch thick, and washed thoroughly
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1½ cups Arborio rice
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup dry white wine
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup jarred whole baby artichoke hearts packed in water, quartered, rinsed, and patted dry
½ cup Salsa Verde

Why This Recipe Works

This rice dish from Spain's Mediterranean coast combines the meaty sweetness of clams and their liquor with the verdant flavors of springtime vegetables. Unlike a paella-style rice, in which the rice absorbs most or all of the cooking liquid, brothy rice has a higher proportion of liquid to rice, so that the finished rice remains surrounded by flavorful broth. We built an aromatic base using leek and green bell pepper, and toasted the rice with garlic to enhance its flavor before deglazing the pot with some wine. We added ample broth and clams, and after just 1 minute under pressure our clams had popped open and our rice was perfectly soft. To pack even more vegetables into this one-pot meal, we stirred in convenient jarred artichokes and thawed frozen peas. To emphasize these vegetal flavors and the acidity of the wine, we drizzled everything with a bright Salsa Verde.

Before You Begin

Arborio rice, which is high in starch, gives this dish its characteristic creaminess; do not substitute other types of rice. While we prefer the flavor and texture of jarred whole baby artichoke hearts, you can substitute 6 ounces frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and patted dry. Discard any raw clams with an unpleasant odor or with a cracked or broken shell that won't close.

Instructions

  1.  Using highest sauté function, heat oil in Instant Pot until shimmering. Add leek and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in rice and garlic and cook until grains are translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Stir in wine and cook until nearly evaporated, about 1 minute.
  2.  Stir in 3 cups broth, scraping up any rice that sticks to bottom of pot, then nestle clams into rice mixture. Lock lid in place and close pressure release valve. Select high pressure cook function and cook for 1 minute.
  3.  Turn off Instant Pot and quick-release pressure. Carefully remove lid, allowing steam to escape away from you. Using tongs, transfer clams to bowl, discarding any that have not opened, and cover to keep warm.
  4.  Stir remaining 2 cups broth, peas, and artichokes into rice and cook, using highest sauté function, until heated through, about 3 minutes. (Mixture will be loose.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide rice mixture between individual serving bowls and top with clams. Serve, passing Salsa Verde separately.

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