Clam dip recipes are used to make an appetizer dish which may be served with crackers, chips, bread, or vegetable dippers. Clam dip is made from minced clams and a dip base. The dip may contain cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, or a tomato base.

Clam dip can be a hot baked dip, a dip served in a fondue pot or a crockpot or it can be a cold dip. Clam dip recipes may be used for a finger food appetizer table. It can also be prepared as a side dish with a family seafood meal or if served in volume with many different dippers may be the main course. Nutritionally, clams contain vitamin B12, phosphorus, copper and selenium.http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/finfish-and-shellfish-products/4184/2

Although dips are not defined in the food history logs, recipes from the 1947 Fannie Farmer cookbook called The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook included recipes for a spread to use with crackers. The recipe was called a Mayonnaise Cocktail Bowl and is believed to be an early version of an appetizer dip.http://leitesculinaria.com/9804/writings-chips-history-super-bowl-snack.html The documented history of clams dates back more than 125,000 years to the country of Africa. In this country, giant clam fossils have been found suggesting clams were a source of food for the individuals during that time frame.http://www.livescience.com/animals/080828-giant-clam.html

1. Clam dip recipes may be served hot using a cheese base. These dips are commonly prepared in double boilers or fondue pots.http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,161,148184-242196,00.html
2. Instead of a shredded cheese, a jar of processed cheese spread can be used as the base of the clam dip.http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1615,148186-240196,00.html
3. Lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce can be added with seasonings for extra flavor for the dip. http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/7376
4. Horseradish, green onions, and bacon are additional ingredients to consider adding to the clam dip.http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1622460
5. A spicy clam dip cam be made by adding picante or a spicy salsa.http://hubpages.com/hub/Spicy-Clam-Dip
6. For a tomato flavored clam dip, add sun dried tomatoes.http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/spicy-sun-dried-tomato-and-clam-spread/Detail.aspx
7. Clam dip can be used to stuff celery or mushroom caps or can be served in an avocado. http://oldrecipebook.com/party-dips.shtml