Grilled Clams and Cockles

You can get both kinds of shellfish throughout most of the year, but they are best from late fall until early summer. Cockles are sweeter than clams and have more meat; clams have a more pronounced taste. The shells should smell of fresh seawater when you buy them. If they have an unpleasant smell and the bag is slimy when you grab it, don’t buy them.

Rinsing the sand from between the shells is very important. You can do this by soaking them in clean, salted water before cooking. Th