11 clay pot recipes

Sri Lankan clay pot curd, traditional set yogurt made from just milk and a spoonful of starter, cultured overnight in a clay pot for a thick, creamy curd. Drizzle with treacle for a classic dessert.

If you do not have a clay cooker, you can use a large covered Dutch oven and reduce the oven temperature to about 375 F. Do not fear the large amount of garlic in this recipe. Garlic cloves are nutty and mellow when cooked whole. Once you try it, you may end up adding even more garlic, because they are so good!

Minced clams with a mixture of seasonings and a bit of hot sauce, topped with shredded mozzarella, this dip is excellent served warm with crackers.

Steamed clams in a coconut green curry sauce with lemongrass, garlic, basil, and white wine. A Hawaiian-Thai fusion seafood dish that's aromatic, creamy, and ready in 40 minutes.

Cold clam bisque blended with baby clams, half-and-half, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. A creamy no-cook chilled seafood soup sprinkled with chives and paprika, ready in 15 minutes.

Littleneck clams steamed open in white wine with leeks, garlic, and cream, finished with a splash of Ricard for an anise-kissed French bistro soup. Ready in 30 minutes.

Sea bass simmered in a fragrant homemade curry paste of lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, and cumin with coconut milk. A from-scratch Thai fish curry that's deeply aromatic and satisfying.

Neptune Gazpacho blends tomato and clam juice with cucumber, avocado, and fresh dill, topped with shrimp for a chilled no-cook seafood soup.

Arugula is most commonly employed in salads as in the infamous tricolor salad.

A traditional Spanish clay pot dish of fresh clams cooked with garlic, onion, lime juice, red wine, parsley, and bread crumbs. Rustic, briny, and served straight from the cazuela to the table.

Flowerpot desserts layer yellow cake, ice cream, and golden meringue in clay pots with real flower stems poking through the top. A showstopping party trick that looks wild and tastes like baked Alaska.