Clams with Green Onions, Nori & Sesame

• 24 littleneck or cherrystone clams in their shells
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1/2 sheet sushi nori (square-shaped seaweed used to roll sushi)
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 15 scallions, roots trimmed, white and pale green sections cut into 2-inch lengths, plus 2 tablespoons finely sliced dark green scallion tops
• 2 tablespoons light (low-sodium) soy sauce or 1 teaspoon regular soy sauce
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup mirin
• Several drops extra-virgin olive oil

1. Chip clams for 1 hour (see Notes).
2. Remove clams from water and keep in refrigerator.
3. Light a gas burner or heat an electric burner until hot.
4. Lightly grasp a nori sheet with tongs and pass quickly several times through flame or over electric burner, stopping when nori gives off a faint toasted seaweed odor.
5. The nori should not change in form or color.
6. Coarsely chop nori and set aside.
7. Heat a saute pan over medium-low heat and add sesame seeds.
8. Toast seeds, shaking pan frequently, just until fragrant and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
9. In a spice mill or mortar with pestle, grind nori and sesame seeds together until crushed fine.
10. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in chopped dark green scallions.
11. In a stockpot, combine soy sauce, vinegar, mirin, and 1/4 cup water.
12. Bring to a simmer and add 2-inch white and pale green scallion pieces.
13. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
14. Add clams to stockpot, cover, and cook just until all the clam shells have opened, about 8 minutes.
15. Stir midway through so that clams buried at the bottom get an equal shot of steam.
16. Discard any clams that do not open.
17. Put 6 clams in each of 4 shallow bowls.
18. Distribute scallions and ladle cooking broth into the bowls.
19. Dash a few drops of olive oil on the surface of the broth.
20. Sprinkle with sesame-nori-scallion mixture.
21. Serve hot.

littleneck, cornmeal, roll, sesame seeds, scallions, light, rice wine vinegar, mirin, several drops

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/clams-with-green-onions-nori-amp-sesame (may not work)