Clam Fritters With Orange Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cans (6 oz each) whole baby clams, drained, clams coarsely chopped *
• Orange Dipping Sauce:
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy skillet, add chopped onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until translucent and tender. Scoop onion out of skillet and set aside. Set skillet aside without washing it.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, beat milk and egg together, then add to dry mixture, stirring until well mixed. Stir clams into batter.
3. Heat 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet, set it over medium-high heat and heat until hot but not smoking. Scoop up clam mixture with a 1/4 cup measuring cup and transfer to skillet, leaving about 1 inch between each fitter. Reduce heat to medium, and cook fritters 3 minutes on the first side, flip and cook 3 minutes on second side or until fritter mixture is cooked through. Transfer as finished to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and set in a 200-degree oven.
4. Add remaining olive oil to the skillet, heat again until hot. Add remaining fritter mixture by the 1/4-cup measure and cook 3 minutes on the first side, flip and 3 minutes on the second side. Add to baking sheet in oven.
5. In a small bowl, combine dipping sauce ingredients. Serve fritters hot from the oven with small bowls of dipping sauce.

red onion, olive oil, allpurpose, yellow cornmeal, baking soda, coarse salt, milk, egg, baby clams, orange dipping sauce, soy sauce, honey, orange zest, orange juice concentrate

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/clam-fritters-with-orange-dipping-sauce-1201292 (may not work)