What practical step is recommended when serving cockles in dishes like *cozze e vongole*?
Answer
Deliberately spoon the cockles out, leaving the liquid and settled detritus behind.
Even after proper cooking, any remaining fine silt from the digestive tracts tends to settle at the bottom of the serving dish or pot along with the cooking liquor. For dishes where the broth is prized but grit is unacceptable, like those styled after *cozze e vongole*, a final protective measure is necessary. This involves carefully spooning the cockles themselves out of the container, leaving the accumulated sediment and liquid behind at the base, thus ensuring a clean mouthfeel for the diner.

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