Clams

Vongole, meaning clams in Italian, is the name given to Australia’s most common clams. They have small, oval shells with concentric ridges and bury themselves in sand around the southern coast of Australia. There are a number of different kinds, with shells ranging from white to light brown in colour, sometimes with darker zigzag markings. Surf clams are larger than vongole. Their rough, circular shells have sculpted, concentric ridges, often with darker patterning; they vary from cream to light brown. We’re starting to see a wider range of clams in Australia, including the strawberry cockle and blood cockle.