Don’t let a clam’s hard shell intimidate you: These bivalves are easy to cook, and you don’t have to be a mollusk-master to nail these delicious clam recipes. And it’s not all creamy soups, either! Let this 15-minute Clam Dip serve as proof. Clams can thrive in most savory environments, ranging from Thai green curries to saucy fennel and white bean situations to crispy-gone-soggy grilled toasts piled high with olives and lemon, so think outside the seafood chowder box—though, hey, that’s a great option too.

This article appeared originally on Bon Appetit