Linguine with Clams

This delectable pasta dish featuring a vibrant and flavorful clam sauce is sure to impress your taste buds. While canned clams can be used, this recipe advocates for using fresh clams to elevate the dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. Embrace the taste of the sea as you savor each bite of tender clams perfectly combined with al dente pasta. With the option to add a touch of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat, this pasta with clam sauce promises a delightful culinary adventure. The recipe is easy to follow, taking only about 30 minutes to prepare, making it an ideal choice for a quick yet impressive meal.

MAKES: About 4 servings

TIME: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Salt
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 pounds littleneck or other tiny hard-shell clams or cockles, scrubbed
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, or to taste (optional)
• 1 pound linguine or other long pasta
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt to it. This salted water will be used to cook the pasta later.
2. In a large, deep skillet, heat half of the olive oil over high heat. Add the scrubbed clams and cook, gently shaking the skillet or stirring occasionally, until the first few clams open, which should take about 5 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and, if you desire some spiciness, the hot red pepper flakes. Cover the skillet for a minute, then uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the clams are open (any unopened clams can be opened at the table with a butter knife), which will take about 3 more minutes. Turn off the heat and keep the clams covered.
4. While the clams are cooking, cook the pasta in the boiling water until it is just becoming tender but still slightly underdone. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
5. Sprinkle the clams with salt and black pepper and drizzle them with the remaining olive oil. Turn the heat to medium and add the pasta to the clams. Cook, stirring, until the pasta reaches the desired tenderness, which will take just about a minute. If the mixture seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water to moisten it.
6. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, taste the dish, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy the delightful pasta with fresh clam sauce, allowing the flavors of the sea to tantalize your palate.

TIPS:

• Fresh clams can elevate the flavor of the sauce, but if fresh clams are unavailable, canned clams can still be used as a convenient alternative.
• Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer hot red pepper flakes, depending on your taste preferences.
• For a twist on the recipe, consider adding chopped fresh or canned tomatoes just before adding the pasta to create Pasta with Red Clam Sauce.
• Another variation is to prepare the clams as instructed and then add 1 cup of Traditional Pesto just before stirring in the pasta to create Pasta with Clams and Pesto.

This recipe not only presents a delicious pasta dish but also showcases the versatility of clams as a delightful seafood choice for creating scrumptious pasta sauces. Whether you’re enjoying a cozy dinner at home or entertaining guests, this Pasta with Clam Sauce is sure to impress with its exquisite flavors and simplicity in preparation.