Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dry vermouth or white wine
• 24 littleneck clams, scrubbed
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 head garlic, cloves roughly chopped
• 3 spring onions or scallions (white and light green parts only), thinly sliced
• 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced, plus chopped leaves for topping
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
• 1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream
• 1 small baguette, sliced

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Instructions

1. Bring 4 cups water and the vermouth to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Add the clams, cover and cook until they start opening, 4 to 10 minutes; as the clams open, transfer them to a bowl using tongs. (Discard any unopened clams.) Strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon starts to crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the spring onions, sliced celery, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 7 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables in the pan; cook, stirring, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Slowly add the reserved clam cooking liquid, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add the clams to the saucepan (remove from the shells and chop, if desired); add the peas. Cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the half-and-half. Top with celery leaves and serve with the baguette.
5. Photograph by Ryan Liebe