Chopped Clam Pasta Recipes

MARK BITTMAN'S PASTA WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• Steam the clams in a covered pot (a glass top is very nice, voyeuristically speaking). You don't need any liquid other than what the clams will release. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
• After the clams open - it could take as little as 10 minutes - uncover and cool. Take the meat out and strain and reserve the liquid; make sure to leave any sand behind. Chop the clams if they're big.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is warm, add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the clams and continue to cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved clam liquid.
• Drain the pasta when it's nearly done and stir it into the clams. Cook, stirring, until the pasta is tender and the mixture is saucy. Add more clam-cooking liquid (or hot water or white wine), if necessary. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding a little more oil if you like. Garnish, and serve.

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.
• Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.
• Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being carefull not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.

LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the package directions for al dente. Be careful not to overcook; the pasta should have plenty of bite to it. Drain and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. (Using both olive oil and butter allows you to heat the mixture at a higher heat before it starts to brown.) Add the clams and garlic and stir together. Cook for 3 minutes. Pour in the white wine, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sauce is reduced and less watery, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and stir to melt. Reduce the heat and squeeze in the lemon juice. Pour in the cream and sprinkle in the parsley. This is a very decadent dish! Add some salt and freshly ground black pepper, then stir well and taste for seasoning. Add a splash of reserved clam juice if the sauce needs thinning. Cook over low heat until heated through, about 3 minutes more.
• Pour the pasta into a serving bowl. Pour on the sauce straight from the skillet, including all the luscious juice, and toss to combine. At this point your kitchen smells like heaven. Top with freshly grated Parmesan and garnish with lemon slices.

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Start water to boil for pasta.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat in a small or medium saucepan.
• Add garlic and saute until softened, a few minutes. Add mushrooms (if using), clams, and juice from one of the cans of clams. Turn heat to high.
• Add red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, oregano, wine, and lemon juice. Let simmer on high until at least three fourths of liquid has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta until it is al dente.
• Drain pasta. Add pasta back to empty pot (off heat) and coat with 1/2 tablespoon of oil.
• Take sauce off heat. Add black pepper to taste, and parsley.
• Immediately add half of the sauce to the pasta and toss.
• Plate pasta, top with other half of sauce, and serve.

SPAGHETTI AND CLAMS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Add clams, stirring frequently for 3 minutes, or until clams are lightly browned. Stir in parsley, olive oil, and reserved clam juice mixed with enough water to equal 2 cups liquid.
• Increase heat and bring to a low boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over pasta with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

QUICK TUNA AND CLAM PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Heat a large pot of water to a boil.
• Combine onion and butter in a large skillet; cook over medium-high heat until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add pappardelle (or egg noodles) to boiling water; cook according to package directions, drain, place in a large serving bowl.
• Meanwhile, add parsley, dill weed, capers and pepper to the onion and butter in skillet; cook 1 minute and stir in clam chowder and tuna; cook, stirring occasionally, until hot throughtout, about 5 minutes.
• Season to taste, if necessary.
• Pour over pasta; toss to coat and serve with lemon wedges.

CHOPPED BAKED CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in heated oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, making sure not to brown the garlic. Stir in the clams, thyme, and oregano. Remove from heat and stir in the beaten egg. Once combined, mix in breadcrumbs and spoon mixture into 4 ramekins; arrange on a baking sheet. Drizzle butter over each ramekin.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.