Oven-roasted Clams with Chanterelles, Bacon, and Tomatoes

Oven-roasted Clams with Chanterelles, Bacon, and Tomatoes

1/2 C. diced bacon (about 3 slices; 3 oz. total)
1 T. olive oil
6 oz. fresh chanterelle or common mushrooms, rinsed, tough stem ends trimmed, and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (see notes)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
6 T. unsalted butter or margarine
3 T. dry white wine
1 C. cherry tomatoes, rinsed, stemmed, and cut in half, or 3 firm-ripe Roma tomatoes (about 10 oz. total), rinsed, cored, seeded, and diced
1/2 C. pitted calamata or oil-cured black olives (see notes)
4 sprigs (about 4 in. long) fresh thyme, rinsed
2 lb. clams in shells, suitable for steaming, well scrubbed under cool running water
1 lemon (about 4 oz.), rinsed and cut lengthwise into 6 wedges

In a 10- to 12-inch ovenproof frying pan (with at least 2 1/2-in. sides) over medium-high heat, stir bacon often until browned and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Add olive oil, mushrooms, and garlic and stir often until mushrooms are slightly limp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add butter, wine, tomatoes, olives, and thyme sprigs; stir often over high heat until butter is melted and liquid is boiling. Add clams and squeeze 2 lemon wedges over clams, discarding seeds and peels. Cover pan. Transfer pan to a 500° regular or convection oven and bake until clams pop open, 12 to 15 minutes. Ladle clam mixture and juices equally into four wide, shallow bowls; discard any clams that didn’t open. Garnish each serving with a lemon wedge.

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