Fresh Clam Pasta Recipe Recipe Cards

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.

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.

PASTA WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook mushrooms and bell pepper in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
• 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. Steam broccoli in colander over pasta water, or in steamer, until bright green, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Toss cooked pasta with 1/4 cup butter, Parmesan, oregano, parsley, garlic powder and black pepper. Cover and set aside to keep warm.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup butter. Dump in flour all at once and whisk until smooth. Whisk in cream and chicken broth a little at a time and cook until mixture thickens. Stir in clams and reserved broccoli, mushrooms and bell pepper. Heat through and toss with pasta. Serve at once.

SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH CLAMS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan heat the olive oil add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the wine, tomatoes, clams and red pepper flakes and cook, covered, shaking the pan occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the clams open. Add the parsley, stir once, and add the pasta. Toss to heat the pasta, then transfer to a warmed serving bowl.

PIERRE FRANEY'S PASTA WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• In a 10- or 12-inch frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and fry the garlic until fragrant, taking care not to burn it. Add the thyme and clam juice and reduce by half, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and reduce, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup heavy cream and simmer till the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine 1 cup of the basil leaves and the clams and add to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• Cook the fettuccine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. Add Parmesan to taste. Correct the seasonings. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water or additional cream, sparingly. Simmer the pasta and stir until sauce is the desired thickness. Add more basil to taste and serve immediately.