- 3/4 cup coarse dry bread crumbs (preferably from a crusty loaf of Italian bread)
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced drained bottled roasted peppers
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano leaves or 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- 24 small hard-shelled clams such as littlenecks, shucked, reserving 24 half shells
- sea or coarse salt for filling baking pan and serving platter
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a small bowl stir together topping ingredients until combined well and season with salt and pepper.
- Scrub reserved clam shells inside and out and dry. In a shallow baking pan spread coarse salt about 1/4 inch deep and nestle shells in salt to keep them level. Return shucked clams to shells and cover generously with topping. Clams may be prepared up to this point 1 hour ahead and chilled.
- Bake clams in middle of oven 10 minutes. Serve clams nestled in coarse salt on a platter.