Grilled Clams with Sausage and Tomatoes

Fire up the grill, invite the family over and enjoy this twist on clams from the grill.   So good!

• ¼ olive oil 
• 2 lbs loose sweet Italian sausage 
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped 
• ¼ c white wine 
• 4 ozs clam juice 
• 30 ozs diced tomatoes, drained 
• 5 fresh basil leaves 
• 5 lbs cherry stone clams, cleaned and scrubbed 
• ¼ c fresh parsley, chopped

Place a dutch oven on the stove with olive oil and garlic cook over medium heat.  Cook until fragrant and remove the garlic with a slotted spoon and reserve.  Add the sausage and cook until the sausage is browned, chopping it as it cooks.  Return the garlic to the pan with the wine, clam juice, tomatoes and basil.  Simmer for twenty minutes.  Remove from heat. 

Place the clams on the grill over medium heat, just until all the shells open up.  Remove the clams to a platter and pour the sauce all over and sprinkle with parsley.

Serve with some crusty artisan or hot garlic bread to soak up the sauce.