Clam Bake Rice Cakes with Old Bay Aioli

This is my second entry for the Success Rice contest and I think this dish screams end of summer perfection! All the best parts of a clam bake mixed into a delicious rice cake and drizzled with Old Bay Aioli. It all starts with crispy bacon, tender Littleneck clams and then Jasmine rice that is cooked in the bacon and clam broth to really infuse it with that classic clam bake flavor. Sweet corn is added and a lemony Old Bay aioli rounds it out. 

 Clam Bake Rice Cakes with Old Bay Aioli

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 ½ teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning

1 lemon – zest and juice

1 Tablespoon hot sauce

2 slices bacon

1 Tablespoon butter

1 cup chicken stock

2 pounds littleneck clams, well cleaned

1 bag Success Boil in Bag Jasmine Rice

2 eggs, beaten

½ cup corn 

1 green onion, sliced thinly

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

2 Tablespoons butter

In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, Old Bay, the zest and juice of the lemon and the hot sauce.

Add the bacon and 2 Tablespoons of water to a large sauce pot over medium high heat and cook until the bacon is browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. 

With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pot and place on a paper towel to drain. 

Add the butter, stock and clams to the same pot. Raise the heat to high, cover and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until all the clams open. Remove the clams from the broth and separate the meat from the shells.

Using the same pot the clams and bacon cooked in, add the rice bags and cook according to package directions.

Once cool enough to handle, finely chop the bacon and clams. Add to a large mixing bowl along with the eggs, corn, green onion and seasoning salt. Stir until evenly combined.

Heat a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. 

Working in batches, melt half of the butter in the hot pan and scoop 5 small portions of the rice mixture around the pan (I use a small cookie cutter to portion the mixture and keep them evenly round). Cook for about 4 minutes per side and then repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with dipping sauce, makes 10 cakes.