Fried Spicy Ipswich Clam Rolls

Ingredients

• 4 dozen Ipswich clams, shucked
• Creole seasoning
• 1/2 cup hot sauce
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Tartar Sauce:

• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
• Salt
• Cayenne
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 white rolls (about 6 to 8 inches long), brushed with butter and toasted
• 2 cups Maw Maw's Slaw, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the fryer.

Season the clams with Creole seasoning. In a mixing bowl, add the clams, hot sauce and milk. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove and drain completely. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal and flour. Season with Creole seasoning. Dredge the clams in the seasoned flour, coating each clam completely. Fry the clams, in batches until crispy and golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the clams from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season with Creole seasoning.

For the Tarter Sauce: put the egg, mustard, onions, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, capers and green onions in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and cayenne. With the processor running, pour the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream. Cover and let sit for 1 hour in the refrigerator before using. Best if used within 24 hours.

To assemble, spread the tarter sauce on both sides of each roll. Arrange 1 dozen clams on 1 side of each roll. Top the clams with cole slaw and serve.