Clam Appetizer Dip (Rewind Recipes)

I know what you’re thinking. Because I thought it, too.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

It’s like a car accident. You can’t NOT look. You have to know more. How did this happen? Is everyone okay? Did she seriously use canned clams in a dip?

Yes. I did.

And it works!

I promise it does.

You look mad.

Please don’t leave me.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

Welcome to the second edition of Rewind Recipes! The series where I go back in time, blow the dust off a few old cookbooks and get recipe inspiration from yesteryear.

Today I’m cooking from another gem found in my grandmother’s stash. It’s, get this, a collection of recipes from the telephone employees in Pine Bluff, AR from 1958! Just look at that front cover illustration, would ya. I wish I still had a phone like that. I’d get so tangled up in the cord, like a tool.

Anyway, I chose this clam appetizer dip for two reasons:

a) It has the word appetizer in the title. Explaining that it’s an appetizer by saying it’s an appetizer. I don’t know why I thought that was so cute. It’s the little things.

and b) Canned clams. How terrifying is that? Have you ever used canned clams? Do you ever use canned clams? Would you ever use canned clams? Should you ever used canned clams? Are you a loner, Dottie? A rebel?

I’ll be honest. I was skeered at first. Because look.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

It’s cream cheese, a little lemon juice, a splash of worcestershire sauce, minced CANNED clams, salt, pepper and the broth from the can. How can this be good? You try it first.

The instructions said to just mix it all in a bowl until smooth. Well, my cream cheese was pretty soft already, but it was still hard to mix it all by hand, sooooo, in the food processor it went!

I liked this idea because I was nervous about biting into a little clam. Would I cry? Would I sweat? You try it first.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

Homies (<— please ignore that), it.is.straight.up.delicious.

I kid you not. I liked that the food processor whipped it, whipped it real good, into full-blown creamy submission. It’s like, divine. I’d use a bunch of explanation points here, but I’ve already called you homie, so I don’t want to further blow this post.

I really, really hope you try it. The clam flavor yields this subtle oceany hint, that’s surprisingly fresh and nice! I kept saying, “AARON, omg this is really good. Try it. Wait you don’t like cheese. OMG I love this DIP. Try it! Wait, never mind. More for me. You’d never know it has canned clams in it! Man, telephone employees know their ish.”

You do remember that whole block of cream cheese, right? Right.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

I’ll try it first.

Clam Appetizer Dip:

What it took for 4 – 6. Or 1:

* 1 clove of garlic, peeled
* 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
* 2 tsp lemon juice
* 1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
* 1/2 tsp salt
* pinch of ground pepper
* 1/3 cup drained canned minced clams
* 1/4 cup clam broth
* dried dill (optional garnish)

The original instructions said to rub the garlic clove against the inside of the mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix to combine until smooth. I found the mixing to be hard! So I dumped errrrthang in the food processor (even the garlic!) and whipped it until smooth and creamy.

Giiiiirl.

*a little hot sauce on this piece? Yeah.

Clam Appetizer Dip / Bev Cooks

Oscar party!

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24 Responses to Clam Appetizer Dip (Rewind Recipes)

  1. Sarah B February 5, 2015 at 7:55 am #
    I am loving these rewind recipes! I mean canned things are just a teeny tiny bit gross and freak me out, but I still use them soI should shut up about it! Old school crap dip like this is SO GOOD. My grandma makes a version just like it!
    • Lyn M. December 23, 2018 at 9:29 pm #
      Oh, wow, like seriously, I grew up eating this every Christmas since 1968, when my sister's bestie Joyce's mom shared their family recipe! Lol, I was just cruising to see if there was a variation on the theme...never mind, thinking I'll stick with the best...my cream cheese is warming now, and Morton's minced -- and chopped, thank you -- for a double recipe. This recipe is traditionalist Christmasin my family?. Oh, and fighting the bowl is half the fun...work them shoulders, biceps and forearms...my arthritic hands are getting tired after biscuits and *best ever* chocolate chip, pecan cookies...trying to be ready for tomorrow so I don't have to work. Merry Christmas 2018 and Peace on Earth is my Christmas Wish???
  2. Heather West February 5, 2015 at 8:12 am #
    OMG! This is my father's side of the family's "family recipe"! no joke - we make it for every holiday & get together and we usually have to quadruple the recipe because we go so crazy for it. We serve ours with lays potato chips.
  3. Darcy February 5, 2015 at 9:01 am #
    You TOTALLY need to try my friend's recipe for clam spaghetti! http://murdockcattle.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-on-friday.html This post reminded me of that recipe - it's a good 'un! :)
  4. Missy February 5, 2015 at 9:23 am #
    I use canned clams a lot! I love to add them in soups, and sautee them with wine and mushrooms and spoon it all over zucchini noodles. Cheap. Easy. Fast. They are obviously a good date.
  5. Sandra February 5, 2015 at 1:56 pm #
    I totally have seen this before but with cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. It is SO GOOD!
  6. Jessica @ Golden Brown and Delicious February 5, 2015 at 3:49 pm #
    I've got no shame. I make my crab cakes with canned crab and my mom's buffalo chicken dip is even made with canned chicken (which still grosses me out but I LOVE it). Old school recipes are the best, dude.
  7. Carol Bass February 5, 2015 at 9:22 pm #
    I am sixty six years young and every decent party I remember as a child included this dip!! it's so nice to see it come around again! And, by the way, I make a very tasty lemon parsley clam sauce for linguine with canned clams.
  8. Tracy | PeanutButter and Onion February 6, 2015 at 6:56 am #
    Whatever makes this easier, I'll use a can if you say so
  9. Sarah Macon February 6, 2015 at 10:54 am #
    Sandra up there got it right! Try it with cottage cheese, whipped cream cheese, salt & pep, & about a whole container of dill. Eat it with ruffles. My husband still pukes when I make it and eat the WHOLE BOWL. It's amaze.
  10. Kylah February 6, 2015 at 7:32 pm #
    We have clam dip (recipe from the Snow's can) every christmas eve in my family! Also please put canned clams on a pizza, garlic and olive oil instead of sauce, with mozzarella and a handful of parm. Its new haven style, you won't regret it!
  11. Becca February 7, 2015 at 8:32 am #
    And here I am thinking I'm the only person in existence with a husband that hates cheese. More for us! :D
    • Anonymous February 7, 2015 at 12:33 pm #
      No Becca, my husband doesn't like cheese!
  12. Gail February 7, 2015 at 12:34 pm #
    I use canned clams all the time--linguini with clam sauce, clam dip, clam chowder, etc.!
  13. Kristen February 8, 2015 at 12:54 pm #
    I love the fact that you're willing to try something that sounds...well, you know. I can't wait to try this dip!
  14. Jenny Flake February 9, 2015 at 11:31 am #
    Sometimes you just have to say, why not?!! Simple and easy...Mmmmm!!!
  15. Carrie February 10, 2015 at 12:42 pm #
    I have been eating this with my family since I was a little girl. Always a favorite. Next time you have to try it how we do it and stick it in the oven. Block-o-cream cheese, can of clams, some juice and reserve some juice on the side, worcestershire and stick it in the oven (microwave if you are feeling impatient) for 30 minutes or so until the cheese is all melted and then mix it all together (add more worcestershire, s & p, lemon etc to taste, reserved clam juice to thin it out if needed) and eat it with Lay's. So amazing.
  16. Adam February 12, 2015 at 6:40 am #
    Great, it looks tasty and easy
  17. Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) April 18, 2015 at 2:26 pm #
    Holy cow! Just made this as an app before my friends come over for dinner tonight. I taste tested and damn! That's delish.
  18. Teresa (T) January 1, 2016 at 8:35 am #
    Old Skool right there! Takes me back to my mom's grown up parties when we were kids. Then I started making it and then forgot all about it......right now my hubby says "I need that dip" and it's 6:30 in the morning....hehehe
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