From Jody Adams, a 1993 Best New Chef, now at Rialto in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed
4 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1/4 cup chopped basil
directions
Heat the oil in a large enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the onion; cook over moderate heat until softened, 5 minutes. Add the bell peppers and garlic and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in the wine, water, fennel and crushed pepper. Add the clams and zucchini, cover and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the clams open, 7 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the clams to shallow bowls. Season the clam broth with salt and pepper and spoon over the clams. Top with the basil.