Conquilhas!

There is something about these little wedge shell clams that makes them addictive, kind of like the peanut of the nut family. Eat one and suddenly you want the entire pot to yourself, but there’s something wonderfully sinister about sharing them, and feeling like your getting the lions share. If you’re a conquilha fan, you’ll know what I mean. If you’ve never had them, than you definitely need to try.

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Simply cooked with good olive oil, garlic and cilantro, conquilhas are an Algarve summer favourite. I remember craving them when I lived abroad, and know folks that have conquilhas listed as a top priority when they visit. They’re extremely easy to make, the trick is to find very fresh ones that don’t have a lot of sand. The best tip I can suggest, when you see conquilhas at a fishmongers, tap the shell of an open one, if it closes than their good…if it doesn’t it’s dead, and you don’t want them.

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