One of our editors loves colorful, sloppy pastas—and used to eat them frequently for lunch. Then one day, she went to pick up her dry cleaning and the owner said, “My dear, it’s not that I don’t love your business. But you dress like a woman and eat like a child.” It took the bluntness— and kindness—of a stranger for her to realize that as much as she loves linguine, she cannot have it for lunch. Now she goes home at night, changes into a T-shirt and jeans, and whips up this dish—absolutely scrumptious and perfect for casual, sexy evenings when you don’t mind making a little mess.
SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound linguine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 4 ounces Mexican chorizo (uncooked) or other spicy pork sausage, casing removed
- 1 link Spanish chorizo (precooked) or about 4 ounces pepperoni, casing removed and meat chopped
- One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
- 2 pounds littleneck clams, rinsed and scrubbed in cold water to remove the grit
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 thick slices crusty bread, toasted, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain in a colander and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 30 seconds. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up any lumps with a spoon, about 2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes to the pot. Turn the heat down to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick, 12 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, scrub any remaining sand off the clamshells, discarding any that are already open.
- Add the clams to the pot. Increase the heat to moderately high and cover. Cook about 10 minutes, stirring a few times, until all the clams have opened (discard any that remain closed). Add salt and pepper to the sauce as needed.
- Arrange the linguine in bowls. Top with the chorizo-clam sauce and serve with toasted bread on the side.
